Red Rock Rendezvous Announces 2008 Clinic Guides

MOUNTAIN GEAR PRESENTS: RED ROCK RENDEZVOUS ANNOUCES 2008 CLINIC GUIDES

Las Vegas, Nev. ­ The fifth annual "Mountain Gear Presents: Red Rock Rendezvous" rock climbing festival announced its initial list of expert climbing guides to lead the event¹s scheduled clinics. Clinic guides include internationally renown athletes such as: Mijka Burhardt, Tommy Caldwell, Olivai Cussen, Malcolm Daly, Mica Dash, Brittany Griffith, Arno Ilgner, Dean Lords, Dale Remsberg, Beth Rodden, Matt Segal, Pablo Stein and Don Welsh.

"This is an incredible opportunity for Red Rock Rendezvous participants to meet and work with these kind of world-class climbers," said Paul Fish, president of Mountain Gear. "The quality of instruction received by participants every year is what makes this event unique and keeps climbers coming back."

Presented by Mountain Gear and sponsored by The North Face, the festival will return to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas on March 28-30 to benefit The Access Fund and other local and national non-profit organizations.

The festival will offer clinics for advanced, intermediate and beginning climbers on Saturday and Sunday. Registration is $89 per person for the Saturday and Sunday events, and $179 per person for the Friday "Intro" day and Saturday and Sunday clinic combo. Registration includes the Friday night opening celebration, free climbing at Red Rock Canyon when not in formal clinics, a dinner buffet on Saturday night, demos, comps and mini-seminars by event sponsors, a blow-out party and slide show on Saturday night, pancake breakfast Sunday morning and service projects to assist in the environmental conservation of the Red Rock Canyon and Spring Mountain. For only $39, participants can receive access to all of the festivities without the climbing. All of the festival activities outside of the climbing clinics will take place at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park located approximately 10 minutes from the entrance to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

For the fist time at Red Rock Rendezvous, UClimb will join the festival and host the event's "Intro" day on Friday, March 28. UClimb is an organization designed to teach all ages how to rock climb in a comfortable small-group setting with other amateur climbers. At the conclusion of UClimb's "Intro" day, participants can enjoy two additional half-day clinics during the weekend as part of "Mountain Gear Presents: Red Rock Rendezvous." The event will offer an optional gear package for new beginners that includes a harness, helmet, shoes, belay device, carabineer, chalk bag and membership to the Access Fund. Participants can purchase the gear package, the Friday ³Intro² day, two additional half-day clinics and event festivities for $349.

Event proceeds will benefit The Access Fund, a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment. Other benefiting organizations include the American Safe Climbing Association, the American Alpine Club, Friends of Red Rocks and the Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council.

For more information and to register, call 800.829.2009 or visit www.mgear.com/rrr.