Anchor Replacement Initiative Hits New Heights

About the ARIThe Anchor Replacement Initiative (ARI) is an industry-supported and industry-driven program that serves the U.S. climbing community by systematically replacing worn-out or inadequate belay and rappel anchors. The ARI is a network of climbing community activists, who are familiar with the needs at their areas and have the expertise and judgment to replace existing belay and rappel stations. Since the Anchor Replacement Initiative’s (ARI) establishment in 2003, supported by Climbing Magazine, The North Face, Petzl and countless volunteers across the country have touched 30 different destinations, maintaining over 1,500 anchors. For more: climbing.com/community/ari and twitter.com/ClimbingARI.

About The North Face®The North Face®, a subsidiary of VF Corp., was founded in 1966 and opened its first retail store in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, and skiing retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers, and major outdoor-specialty retail chains. Additional information about The North Face® can be found on the company’s website, www.thenorthface.com.

About PetzlPetzl America is the U.S. division of Petzl, headquartered in France. Petzl America, based in Clearfield, Utah, has been recognized by Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work 2008. For over 50 years, Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those entering the vertical world. Today, the Petzl brand is closely associated with adventure, exploration, rescue, and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing and alpinism. Petzl climbing hardware and headlamps can be found in outdoor specialty shops and premium sporting goods retailers around the world. For more information, visit: www.petzl.com.

About Skram Media Skram Media leads the industry by providing a portfolio of highly read multiplatform outdoor editorial products, including Climbing Magazine, Climbing.com, Urban Climber Magazine, UrbanClimberMag.com, MyUCTV.com, Mountain Gazette, and MountainGazette.com. The portfolio provides synergy between print and digital properties, reaching over 330,000 readers monthly and many more online. With the acquisition of Mountain Gazette in Fall 2008, Skram Media provides advertisers the opportunity to reach the full spectrum of mountain and outdoor enthusiasts.

For more information, please contact:Mark Crowther mark.crowther@skrammedia.com 212-691-2927 x101