Mount Rushmore Trail Day/Clean Up

    Join us at Mount Rushmore National Memorial to celebrate National Volunteer Week. Members of the community are invited to join park staff to assist in enhancing the beauty of the location by picking up litter and other items that have found their way off the main trail.

This event kicks off National Park Week and celebrates the spirit of voluntarism and community engagement that have kept places worth supporting and visiting for over a hundred years. Registration for the event can be completed below or through a sign-up on the day of the event.  

This will include the removal of litter on select areas within Mount Rushmore with the company of a National Park Service employee. The event will begin at 10:00 AM MDT. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Monthly Meeting

Every third Monday of each month in 2024, the BHCC will hold public meetings to inform BHCC members and the Black Hills Climbing community about topics such as volunteer opportunities, summaries of board member meetings, committee updates, etc.

The majority of our meetings will take place in Rapid City, with every third meeting being held in Custer or Spearfish. Please refer to the calendar and/or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on meeting locations and times.

Click below to sign up for our newsletter and learn ways to be more involved/show support with the BHCC.

Monthly Meeting

Every third Monday of each month in 2024, the BHCC will hold public meetings to inform BHCC members and the Black Hills Climbing community about topics such as volunteer opportunities, summaries of board member meetings, committee updates, etc.

The majority of our meetings will take place in Rapid City, with every third meeting being held in Custer or Spearfish. Please refer to the calendar and/or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on meeting locations and times.

Click below to sign up for our newsletter and learn ways to be more involved/show support with the BHCC.

Monthly Meeting

Every third Monday of each month in 2024, the BHCC will hold public meetings to inform BHCC members and the Black Hills Climbing community about topics such as volunteer opportunities, summaries of board member meetings, committee updates, etc.

The majority of our meetings will take place in Rapid City, with every third meeting being held in Custer or Spearfish. Please refer to the calendar and/or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on meeting locations and times.

Click below to sign up for our newsletter and learn ways to be more involved/show support with the BHCC.

Monthly Meeting

Every third Monday of each month in 2024, the BHCC will hold public meetings to inform BHCC members and the Black Hills Climbing community about topics such as volunteer opportunities, summaries of board member meetings, committee updates, etc.

The majority of our meetings will take place in Rapid City, with every third meeting being held in Custer or Spearfish. Please refer to the calendar and/or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on meeting locations and times.

Click below to sign up for our newsletter and learn ways to be more involved/show support with the BHCC.

Dave Rone Ice Climbing Presentation

When | December 9th @ 7:30 PM (After Board Elections)

Where | Black Hills Helicopters, Inc

in Keystone, SD

24035 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751

Dave Rone started rock and ice climbing at Interstate Park, on the St Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, almost 50 years ago. He made his first trip to Devils Tower in 1977, and a few years later found the Black Hills. And since then, he’s visited some other places that are almost as good! 

Using photos, and video, Dave’s presentation, Winter Climbing: Laughs, Gasps, and Occasional Sends, will take you through some of the stuff that's gone on over the years. And it will highlight some remarkable areas and routes, including the Canadian Rockies, the Lake Superior region, Quebec, Norway, and Patagonia. 

Whether you're a winter climber or not, you’ll find Winter Climbing entertaining and informative, and it may even lead you to stepping into crampons and grabbing ice tools!  

BHCC Board Member Elections

Starting at 6 PM

Located at:

BLack Hills Helicopters, INc.

24035 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751

This year we will be using an online voting platform so BHCC members who are unable to be at the location for elections can still vote.

Click below to vote now!

Nominations

Brandon Emery | Vice President

Jim Slichter | Treasurer

Mark Rafferty | President

John lang | Secretary

Jason McNabb | Member at Large

Colin Boyd | Vice President

Chris Pelczarski | Secretary

Peyton Rafferty | Publicist

Ron Yahne | Member at Large

Katy Mazer | Publicist

Join us for the BHCC Christmas Party, in collaboration with the Paha Sapa Grotto! Embrace the Christmas spirit with a gingerbread build-off, captivating guest speakers, live music, a food truck, and the delightful touch of Lost Cabin Beer. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your baking skills and win a fantastic prize from Lost Cabin Brewery. Let’s celebrate the season together in style!

Schedule Breakdown

3 PM | Party Starts and 8 teams together for gingerbread build off

4 PM | Pocket Junkies Band Begin to Play

4:30 PM | Build off Starts (1 hour to finish, prize provided by Lost Cabin Brewery)

6 PM | Band Ends, and Tandor Bacado Food Truck Open

6:15 PM | Guest Speakers Begin

7 PM - Close | Eat, Drink, and Socialize

Scroll down for more info about our collaborators.

Paha Sapa Grotto

The Paha Sapa Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and is dedicated to the study, conservation, and enjoyment of caves.

Browse this page below or our events or projects page to find out more about what  specifically we are involved with.  

The Paha Sapa Grotto usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in Hill City , at the Chute Rooster.  Each meeting normally begins with a presentation about caves, caving, or geology, followed by the business meeting.  Current Grotto projects are discussed at the meeting.  We also offer caving trips once a month for beginners!

Pocket Junkies Band

The Pocket Junkies are a conqlomeration of seasoned iazz and blues professionals who are currently residing in the Black Hills.

The line-up:

Jimmy Reed from the Blue Collar Brass Band is on bass and sousaphone.

Sivan Hoch, who, before the pandemic. was a touring musician based out of Denver, playing with acts such as Markus King, Robert Randolph and Paul Pesco of the Hallnoats. He's on sax.

Johnny Hastings is a local Rapid City blues guitarist who has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Buddy Guy.

Kaleb Britton is a fabulous local drummer who grew up in Rapid City and lived in New Orleans for ears playing with onlv the best.

Eric Luba is on keys and vocals. He's from Denver, where he remains a top hire. He's shared the stage with many great bands including Vulfpeck and DJ Williams of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe.

Tandor Bocado

A food Truck offering a diverse menu of world cuisine, using a wood fired tandoor oven and a wok.

The Ups & Downs of Herb and Jan Conn

Herb and Jan Conn are Black Hills legends who set out to establish the Black Hills as a climbing destination and ended up mapping over sixty miles in Jewel Cave. The Ups & Downs of Herb & Jan Conn documents their ascents and descents, and the exploratory, literary, cartographic, and artistic legacy they inspired.

Join SDPB for a free screening!

When: May 11th

Showtimes: 6PM & 7:30PM

Where: Custer Beacon (351 Washington Street, Custer, SD)

REEL ROCK-17 FILM TOUR

Reel Rock Film Tour is back! The BHCC is happy to announce that we will be screening Reel Rock 17 on April 22nd and May 6th.

Don't miss three heart-stopping new films featuring the year’s biggest climbing & adventure stories: a wild expedition on Nameless Tower in Pakistan; a new cutting-edge route in a massive limestone cave in France; and a journey to Palestine’s West Bank to explore the power of climbing to change lives. Presented by The North Face and supported by Black Diamond & Yeti.

Scroll down for more information.

May 6th Screening | The Custer Beacon | Custer, SD

When: May 6th, 2023 | Doors Open @ 6PM | Film starts at 7PM

Where: The Custer Beacon | 351 Washington St., Custer, SD

Cost: $15 Pre-sale | $20 at the Door

Along with entry into the film, your ticket price includes entry into our gear prize raffle. The raffle includes an assortment of outdoor gear generously donated by local Black Hills businesses. Come join us at the Beacon’s comforting atmosphere while watching the top athletes in our sports push the limits to whats possible. Click the button below to buy tickets for this screening!

The Tour Lineup

Burning the Flame

Featuring: Barbara Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher 

Locations: Nameless Tower, Pakistan

Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their greatest challenge yet: a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 3,000-ft. route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Facing extreme conditions and 5.13 trad climbing at high altitude, a two-year quest comes down to one short weather window. Captured with drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most stunning places on earth, Burning the Flame  transports viewers to a place normally off-limits to all but the world’s best climbers.   

DNA

Featuring: Seb Bouin 

Location: Verdon Gorge, France

29-year-old French sport climber Seb Bouin has been quietly working his way through the elite grades, culminating in his attempt to establish a long pitch out an overhanging cave in the Verdon Gorge of France. His proposed line is so futuristic, the moves so improbable, that if Seb can put it all together it may be the most difficult route ever climbed.

Resistance Climbing

Featuring: Andrew Bisharat 

Location: Palestine

In the strife-torn hills of Palestine, a diverse crew of Bedouins, dirtbags and urban professionals embraces climbing as a much-needed respite from the burdens of the Israeli occupation. American writer & climber Andrew Bisharat visits the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transform lives.

Our Sponsors

REEL ROCK-17 FILM TOUR

Reel Rock Film Tour is back! The BHCC is happy to announce that we will be screening Reel Rock 17 on April 22nd and May 6th.

Don't miss three heart-stopping new films featuring the year’s biggest climbing & adventure stories: a wild expedition on Nameless Tower in Pakistan; a new cutting-edge route in a massive limestone cave in France; and a journey to Palestine’s West Bank to explore the power of climbing to change lives. Presented by The North Face and supported by Black Diamond & Yeti.

Scroll down for more information on each screening.

April 22nd Showing | Hay Camp Brewery | Rapid City, SD

When: April 22nd, 2023 | Doors Open @ 6PM | Film starts at 7PM

Where: Hay Camp Brewery | 601 Kansas St., Rapid City, SD

Cost: $15 Pre-sale | $20 at the Door

Along with entry into the film, your ticket price includes entry into our gear prize raffle. The raffle includes an assortment of outdoor gear generously donated by local Black Hills businesses. Come enjoy Hay Camp’s assortment of beer while watching the top athletes in our sports push the limits to whats possible.

May 6th Screening | The Custer Beacon | Custer, SD

When: May 6th, 2023 | Doors Open @ 6PM | Film starts at 7PM

Where: The Custer Beacon | 351 Washington St., Custer, SD

Cost: $15 Pre-sale | $20 at the Door

Along with entry into the film, your ticket price includes entry into our gear prize raffle. The raffle includes an assortment of outdoor gear generously donated by local Black Hills businesses. Come join us at the Beacon’s comforting atmosphere while watching the top athletes in our sports push the limits to whats possible. Click the button below to buy tickets for this screening!

The Tour Lineup

Burning the Flame

Featuring: Barbara Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher 

Locations: Nameless Tower, Pakistan

Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their greatest challenge yet: a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 3,000-ft. route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Facing extreme conditions and 5.13 trad climbing at high altitude, a two-year quest comes down to one short weather window. Captured with drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most stunning places on earth, Burning the Flame  transports viewers to a place normally off-limits to all but the world’s best climbers.   

DNA

Featuring: Seb Bouin 

Location: Verdon Gorge, France

29-year-old French sport climber Seb Bouin has been quietly working his way through the elite grades, culminating in his attempt to establish a long pitch out an overhanging cave in the Verdon Gorge of France. His proposed line is so futuristic, the moves so improbable, that if Seb can put it all together it may be the most difficult route ever climbed.

Resistance Climbing

Featuring: Andrew Bisharat 

Location: Palestine

In the strife-torn hills of Palestine, a diverse crew of Bedouins, dirtbags and urban professionals embraces climbing as a much-needed respite from the burdens of the Israeli occupation. American writer & climber Andrew Bisharat visits the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transform lives.

Our Sponsors

Happy Hour w/ Dawn Glanc

Before the second day showing of the Banff Film Festival the Black Hills Climbers Coalition, along with Dawn Glanc, will be hosting a Happy Hour at the Windsor Block Bar.

Dawn Glanc is a professional athlete as well as a certified Rock Guide and Alpine Guide. She has competed in elite ice climbing competitions, including a 1st place finish at the Ouray Ice Festival in 2009 and 2011, and a first-place finish at the Teva Winter Games in 2012. Dawn also produced the film “Mixtress”, a documentary-style film about mixed climbing, which we showed back in 2019. Dawn is very active in her local community. She is a former member of the Ouray City Council, a former Chicks owner (and longtime Chicks guide), and an active member of the Ouray Climbers Alliance. As you all may know, she also studied and began her climbing career here at Black Hills State University!

Dawn enjoys all types of climbing, however, ice and mixed climbing is her specialty. Dawn has followed her passion for climbing and it has taken her all over the world to climb and explore. She has climbed in Canada, Norway, Greece, France, Italy, Montenegro, Sardinia, and Iceland, as well as multiple first ascents on waterfall ice lines in Cody, Wyoming, and the western fjords of Iceland.

Two Nights, Two Distinct Award-Winning Film Programs!

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival has a rich history of promoting understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share and find inspiration in experiences, ideas, and visions. The festival showcases a selection of outstanding adventure, exploration, and mountain culture films. The annual World Tour reaches more than 40 countries on 7 continents, making it the largest adventure film tour on the planet. The Rapid City Arts Council is proud to have been a part of this incredible showcase for nearly 20 years, making Rapid City a landmark stop on the World Tour, and a gateway to the spirit of adventure, conservation, and artistic pride. Join the adventure and reserve your tickets today!

The Film Festival will be emceed by sponsored athlete and pioneer in the world of ice climbing, Dawn Glanc.

DAY ONE Monday, April 17

• Film Program "Willow" - 6:30PM @ Elks Theatre

DAY TWO Tuesday, April 18

• Happy Hour with Black Hills Climbers Coalition and Dawn Glanc - 5:00PM @ Windsor Block Bar (627 St. Joe)

• Film Program "Aspen" - 6:30PM @ Elks Theatre

Plus, door prizes donated by local businesses!

Ticket proceeds are donated to arts programs at the Dahl Arts Center.

Ticket discounts available for Dahl Arts Center members. Not sure if you're a member? Call 605-394-4101 or email contact@thedahl.org

Don't Miss the Dahl Mountain Mixer & Concert on April 14th! "Water Music" with Local Jazz Artist Alex Massa

2023 Banff Film Festival Sponsor Mixer & Concert

On Friday, April 14th the Black Hills Climbers Coalition will be apart of the Banff Film Festival Sponsor Mixer by providing an information table to spread more information about our organization and climbing within the Black Hills.

This event is open to the public to provide a chance to get to know fellow outdoor organizations within the Black Hills.

A Bar & Food Trucks will be available from 6PM - 7PM.

From 7PM on, live music will be played by Alex Massa

Our February BHCC meeting will be help at the Black Hills Helicopters Inc. Building, located in Keystone @ 7PM.

Address: 24035 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751

Saturday November 5th, 2022

Doors open at 6pm

Presentation begins at 7pm

Hay Camp Brewing 601 Kansas City St Rapid City, SD

Sponsors include Rapid City Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Hay Camp Brewing

Admission is $10 for BHCC members and $15 for non-members

Please join the Black Hills Climbing Coalition on Saturday November 5th as we welcome local author, climbing guide, and BHSU professor Lindsay Stephens, Ph.D. Lindsay spent years exploring the Black Hills Needles to re-discover and climb the many routes established by Herb and Jan Conn - the climbing pioneers and legends of our area. Lindsay wrote a book covering these 200+ climbs - South Dakota Needles: The Adventure Climbs of Jan and Herb Conn. Her presentation will include some of the original equipment used by the Conns as well as the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of her guidebook.

Our yearly potluck/climbing event at South Seas will be held over Labor Day Weekend! Starting at around 9AM we will be setting up tables and ropes so people can enjoy, not only some high quality rock climbing, but food as well. Please feel free to add to the event by bringing your favorite dish/beverage.

If you have any more questions please reach out to us!

Our August BHCC meeting will be help at the Cohort Brewery in Rapid City @ 7PM.

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

PUMPFEST 2022

Our annual Custer State Park Climbing Festival is HERE!

This years festival will be held behind Sylvan Lake in the Inner Outlet Climbing Area. We setting up ropes along the formations of Inner Outlet, Vertigo View, Inner Course, Practice Rock, & Podunk Pinnacle, giving you dozens of options to climb some of CSP’s most classic routes.

Following the climbing we will be having an after party at the South Dakota Outdoor Shop (632 Mt. Rushmore Rd), where we will have live music, guest speakers, gear giveaways, raffles, games & more.

If you would like to volunteer please contact us through our “contact page” and we will provide you with some complementary BHCC gear.

Schedule Breakdown

8:30AM: Meet at the Outlet Parking lot for coffee and to disperse ropes/equipment.

9AM: Disperse and set up top ropes in the Inner Outlet Area.

9AM - 12PM: Sylvan Rocks Climbing Clinic. (Sign up and Information Below)

9:30AM - 3:00PM: CLIMB!

3-3:30PM: Remove top ropes.

4-4:30PM: Arrive at South Dakota Outdoor Shop.

5-6PM: Games, Booths, Gear Giveaways

6-9PM: Live Music (The Miller Lite Orchestra), Raffles, Games, Beer, & More

Sylvan Rocks Climbing Clinic

Sylvan Rocks Climbing School is pleased to offer an introduction to top rope climbing clinic on July 30th at the annual Pumpfest Climbing Festival! If you’ve never climbed outside, now is you chance, and to do with one of the best guide schools around!

Sylvan Rocks will be climbing in the Outlets climbing area behind Sylvan Lake from 9:00 AM to Noon, and offering the opportunity to try climbing 1 or 2 beginner outdoor routes (number of routes is dependent on the number of participants).

Participants must be 18 years or older OR have a parent/guardian present. The sign up cost is $20 (plus tax); harness, helmet, and shoes will be provided and pre-registration is REQUIRED!

Please call 605-484-7585 to sign up today!

Area Overview

For a limited time only, the parking lot we will be using is the Sylvan Lake Lodge dirt lot located below the lodge and behind the Sylvan Lake damn. This is opened to us for the event by Custer State Park so we limit out parking impact on the other visitors of the Park. Green box in the map below.

The climbing routes that will have top ropes are mainly concentrated in the red highlighted box in the map below.

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

July Meeting

When: July 3rd

Where: Lost Cabin Brewery in Rapid City

Topics of Discussion: Pumpfest/Outreach programs/bolting hardware

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!

Climbers Coffee

Every Sunday from 7 AM - 9 AM

This year the BHCC has decided to set up a booth in the Wrinkled Rock Campground for a Climbers Coffee meet and greet. The purpose of this booth is to provide outreach for not only the work the BHCC does for climbing in the Black Hills, but also a platform for land managers and other groups to directly communicate with the climbing community here in the Black Hills.

This meet and greet will run from June 5th - July 31st every Sunday, where we will be providing free coffee from a local roaster. Bring your favorite mug and enjoy some great conversation before a day out climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area.

See you there!