To find climbing partners at Smith Rock, choose the area in Climb On and share when you’re around, what you’d like to climb and how much of the day you have free. Nearby climbers can compare those preferences with their own and start a conversation about a plan.
Smith Rock State Park is near Redmond, Oregon. Oregon State Parks describes several thousand climbs in the park, including more than a thousand bolted routes. A specific plan gives that long list a useful starting point. [1]
## Say what brings you to the area
A local after-work session, a weekend visit and a month in Central Oregon each give another climber a different picture. Start with the time you have and the climbing you’re interested in.
“I’m around Bend for the month and looking for weekday sport-climbing partners” explains both the location and the opportunity. “I have Saturday free and would enjoy meeting a climber for a day at Smith Rock” does the same for a shorter visit.
The climber reading it can tell whether your plan fits their week. That is a useful first connection.
Give the day a little shape
Smith Rock is the area, not the whole plan. Talk about the climbing you want to do, the time you’d like to meet and the amount of time you have.
A specific meeting point makes the next step easier. You can use Climb On’s conversation to settle that point, discuss equipment and put the agreed place and time into a climb plan.
The plan can leave room to choose among routes while still making the beginning of the day clear.
Meet the community around the climbing
Redpoint is part of the local climbing community, and the Smith Rock Climbing Festival brings together climbing, clinics and community activities. It is one place to see how many different kinds of plans begin with the same question: who wants to climb? [2]
A gym session elsewhere in Central Oregon can be another starting point. Add the gym you climb at to your profile and let climbers know the evenings that work for you. A familiar indoor session can begin a conversation that continues outside.
Give local information a place in the conversation
The official park page is a useful source for maps and current notices. A climbing reference adds route information, while a local climbing organization can provide community and access context. [1]
Bring the relevant links into the conversation so both climbers can read the same information. That keeps the plan connected to the place rather than relying on a half-remembered detail from an earlier trip.
Plan your next visit with a climbing partner
Once you’ve climbed together, the conversation is already there for the next session. You might be back next week or on another road trip; having a climber to message changes how a familiar place feels.
Climb On is starting in Central Oregon and traveling with the climbers who use it. [Download Climb On](/go), choose your climbing area and see who’s around.
References
1. [Oregon State Parks, Smith Rock State Park](https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=36).
2. [Smith Rock Climbing Festival](https://smithrockclimbingfestival.com/pages/smith-rock-climbing-festival).
Keep reading
[How do I find climbing partners while traveling?](/blog/how-do-i-find-climbing-partners-while-traveling) · [How do I go from gym climbing to outdoor climbing?](/blog/how-do-i-go-from-gym-to-crag)