After 11 summers, a popular climbing competition will not happen tonight.
The Tuesday night Town Pump organized through the Teton Climbers Coalition is on hold after a sudden insurance change.
Former Executive Director Christian Beckwith said the group is looking for alternatives.
“The work is very much ongoing in finding a policy that will cover this so that we can start it back up,” he said.
Like other climbing groups throughout the country, the Teton coalition paid for insurance that was recommended by a national organization called Access Fund. That coverage changed this year to exclude climbing-related activities.
In their search for alternatives, Beckwith said they have made progress with a local company, Tegeler & Associates.
“We’re hopeful that it will continue,” he said.
Independent climbers are still meeting up at the Phil Baux Park boulders at the base of Snow King Mountain, but their routes only count for bragging rights.
Beckwith recently announced he is stepping away after six years at the helm of the climber’s coalition. An interim leader has not yet been announced.
