Rocky Talkie and GCI Supporting Climbing Communities Worldwide

December 9, 2025

Cover photo by Lilay Marquez

From the high mountains of Peru to the limestone cliffs of the Philippines, climbing is growing rapidly. Local organizations are emerging to steward climbing areas, foster safe and inclusive communities, and create opportunities for sustainable tourism. Yet many face major barriers, including limited access to safety equipment and training.

The Global Climbing Initiative (GCI) bridges this gap. Through gear distribution, grant funding, and nonprofit development trainings, we equip local leaders with the resources and knowledge they need to make climbing safer and more accessible.

Members of Climb Malawi practice essential knot skills. Photo by D Scott Clark.

Since 2023, Rocky Talkie has partnered with GCI to improve safety and communication for climbing communities worldwide. As a sponsor of GCI’s programs, Rocky Talkie has helped empower local leaders in countries such as Brazil, Malawi, and Armenia to grow their climbing communities, teach technical skills, and explore terrain off the grid.

In these remote environments, radios keep teams connected across long approaches, help coordinate technically demanding crag development work, and keep youth programs running smoothly in places where cell service is nonexistent. As these communities grow, improved communication becomes a lasting tool that expands what local leaders can safely accomplish.

The Global Climbing Initiative recently led crag development workshops for climbers in the Philippines. With no cell signal, Rocky Talkies provided critical connection for safe communication. Photo by Nick Aguilos.

Rocky Talkie’s partnership has strengthened GCI’s global programs, enabling more climbers to access the outdoors safely. Looking ahead, Rocky Talkie and GCI aim to continue supporting climbing communities and open new doors of opportunity for climbers worldwide.

If you represent a climbing community in a region where safety equipment is hard to access, follow The Global Climbing Initiative and consider applying to our Gear Distribution Program (applications open annually in April). To support GCI and help equip more climbing organizations worldwide, visit globalclimbing.org/support.