Locals on a Mission

We are climbers, guides and friends with a vested interest in climbing in northwest Montana. We work to conserve, improve and protect the cliffs and boulders of our area.

In the spring of 2017, a group of friends gathered to discuss restarting the “Kooc Krank,” an old climbing festival at Lake Koocanusa in the late 80’s. Realizing that there was more to do than just party, the group decided to form a non-profit, and the Northwest Montana Climbers’ Coalition, aka the Stewards of the Rock, was born. Highly stoked and motivated, the initial board members secured a bolt-replacement grant from the Access Fund that same year.

Since the Coalition’s founding, it has raised thousands of dollars, using that money to replace dozens of top anchors and old bolts, buy tools and organize trail building days, and host events to bring climbers together. NWMTCC has protected access to local crags and continues to build relationships with local land managers on behalf of the local climbing community. And at long last the Koocanusa Krank was revived in 2023, becoming a much-anticipated annual event ever since.

Through hard work and volunteer power, NWMTCC continues to work toward better and safer access to our local climbing areas.