The 2024 Flash Foxy Trad Fest took place the weekend of September 27-29 in North Conway, NH. This was our third year hosting events in North Conway, and we were joined by 200 women and genderqueer climbers for a weekend full of fun and community building! We learned from 25 guides, athletes, and community leaders, hosted 10 clinics, 6 workshops, 8 meetups, gathered for 3 film screenings, a panel discussion, a community slideshow presentation, a stewardship project, and a groovy DJ dance party.

Fundraising is a crucial part of all of our events, and we are so thankful for all of the generous product donations that make our raffle fundraisers possible! On Saturday night, we raised $1,765 to be split evenly between Friends of the Ledges, the Access Fund, and the Native American Lifelines Urban Indian Health Program. On Sunday night, we raised $1,400 to support a grassroots organization providing prosthetics for children in Palestine. This organization was selected by our Sunday presenter, Asia Zughaiar. As a continued acknowledgement that our events take place on and benefit from native lands, we donate $5 from every ticket sale to a local organization supporting indigenous folks. Combined with proceeds from our raffle fundraiser, this will make a total donation of $1,588 to the Native American Lifelines Urban Indian Health Program.

In an effort to improve event accessibility, we partnered with 2 Deaf organizations, Corps THAT and ASL Climbing Network, to hire 5 qualified outdoor ASL interpreters familiar with climbing. The presence of knowledgeable interpreters created a welcoming environment for Deaf participants, ensuring they could fully engage during the weekend. Generous support from Arc’teryx allowed us to pay ASL interpreters fair wages. We also chose to host all programming in ground-floor buildings, and indoors, to make our space more comfortable for community members with disabilities.

We partnered with a local, woman-owned guide company, International Mountain Climbing School, for all our clinics. We partnered closely with 9 affinity climbing organizations, 3 stewardship organizations, and 15 local organizations, small businesses, and nonprofits. This includes but is not limited to local guide services, gear stores, catering, printing studios, hostels, and more. We are grateful for all of the support and ways we have been welcomed by the climbing community and local community at large in North Conway.

“If you asked AI to draw a picture of what the core of the rock climbing community looks like it would look a lot like @heyflashfoxy !! A bunch of beautiful humans came together for a weekend in the small climbing town of North Conway, NH to celebrate what it means to be a modern rock climber. Part of me was excited to attend the festival because I wanted to give back to the community that had givin me so much over the past 20 years but I was surprised to be leaving the festival feeling like the community had givin back to me! It can be easy to forget the feeling and the unique energy you experience when you first start climbing. When you are on your first rope climb and you get half way up to look out at the mountains around you and think “WOW we really get to frickin do this!”. Well this was a great reminder of how special rocks are and the people that you climb them with. There is no other community quite like the one that surrounds climbing and I’m filled with joy knowing that it’s in the fostering hands of @heyflashfoxy.”

• @macklambertmedia, Event Photographer

“To share the wall with the folks in these photos (and countless others not pictured) is nothing short of inspiring - and to bear witness to the collective joy and resilience that permeates the climbing community is always what keeps me coming back. Thank you @heyflashfoxy for facilitating such an incredible network of climbing partners, belay baes, and mentors, and cheers to another spectacular weekend of celebrating our adventures and growth from the past year, deep reflections, and endless dreams that lie just ahead.” 

• @livlivbaxstp, Participant

“I reflect on my 1st time attending FF in Bishop Spring 2022! Since then I have attended annually with other Deaf friends! @heyflashfoxy and @aslclimbnetworkca worked together to improve access. It was a lot of work coordinating and raising funds but so grateful to the interpreters and sponsors who made it all possible. This year @corpsthat and @marlo.amongstthepines coordinated access at the @heyflashfoxy location in North Conway! Amazing interpreters! Thank you for helping make it happen! I am so relieved that the team is growing and I am no longer doing this alone.”

• @deafclimber, Community Partner

“I didn’t know how much an inclusive, safe community could help me focus my mental energy to make the best of the climb. This festival allowed me to be around people who were encouraging, patient, and supportive. With like-minded people around me, I was able to be myself in the most authentic way, make mistakes and push myself to improve.”

• Victoria Peechatt, Scholarship Recipient

“I am impressed by the commitment, joy, and care that were part of each aspect of the festival events. At first, I was nervous to attend because I did not know anyone at the festival, but I quickly found community and friendship. The festival organizers created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and I was impressed with how much effort and attention went into creating this remarkable event.”

• Ellen Oliver, Scholarship Recipient