The Teton Climbers’ Coalition (TCC) is proud to announce the successful delivery of its first shipments through the Re-Roping Project, a community-driven initiative that repurposes retired climbing ropes and nylon gear for Indigenous-led conservation and cultural programs.
The first delivery, made on March 30, was received by Jonah Yellowman, a Navajo elder, Indigenous Led Knowledge Keeper, and spiritual advisor to Utah Diné Bikéyah. The ropes are being used by Navajo Nation residents to secure tipis during desert windstorms.
A second shipment on April 13 went to Jason Baldes, Executive Director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, for use in a Tribal youth horse-packing program in the Wind River Reservation’s wilderness area. “Climbing ropes work great for pack ropes and lead ropes for horses,” Baldes noted. He delivered additional donated materials to Shoshone and Arapahoe Fish and Game for use in land stewardship efforts.
All materials provided through the Re-Roping Project have been retired from use in climbing or any other life-dependent activity due to age, damage, or length of service. Partner organizations are required to ensure all donated materials are limited to non-life-dependent purposes.
Since its launch in February 2025, the Re-Roping Project has offered Jackson Hole climbers a meaningful way to extend the life of their gear. The Teton County Recreation Center’s climbing gym, which retires ropes semi-annually, serves as project’s partner as well as the central drop-off point with a 30-gallon barrel for community donations.
The ropes and other nylon materials, while no longer suitable for climbing, still offer significant value.
“Every climber retires gear out of necessity,” said Christian Beckwith, Executive Director of TCC. “But tossing it feels wrong. The Re-Roping Project transforms that waste into purpose—supporting organizations that care for the land and its people.”
The project has garnered regional attention as a replicable model for sustainable gear reuse. In an April 10 story from Wyoming Public Radio, Beckwith called it a “win-win,” one that connects outdoor enthusiasts with frontline conservation work in a tangible, practical way.
TCC is now expanding the program to include other partners, with the aim of collecting and repurposing more materials for similar efforts.
This is just the beginning,” said Beckwith. “With the Re-Roping Project, we’re building a bridge between climbers and Indigenous communities—one rope at a time.”
To learn more or contribute gear, visit https://tetonclimbers.com/reroping-project/.