As Russia's full-scale invasion continues, Ukrainian amateur climbers are cultivating a new outdoor culture, drawing inspiration from the community ethos of California's Yosemite National Park. The recent Stoned Climbers festival, held in the Zhytomyr region, exemplifies this burgeoning movement, combining rock climbing with live music and camping while navigating the persistent presence of war.
Hundreds gathered at the festival grounds, engaging in activities such as climbing a granite cliff, swimming, and stand-up paddling. Evenings were filled with live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Despite the ordinary leisure activities, attendees received air raid alerts on their phones, and soldiers on leave were visible among the crowds. Organizers directed all profits from the event to support Ukraine's Azov Brigade.
The volunteer-run festival began in 2023, founded by approximately 15 friends captivated by Yosemite's climbing culture. Yosemite is recognized as a birthplace of modern rock climbing, where a counterculture developed around van life, camping, and extended stays on its granite walls. "We realized climbing could be much more than just a sport," said festival co-founder Dmytro Isaienko, 39. "It’s about a specific way of life — in nature, camping, on the rocks."
Isaienko and his collaborators aimed to demystify climbing, making it accessible beyond elite athletes. Their inaugural festival attracted about 150 visitors, a number that grew to over 500 this summer, with a majority being beginners or amateur climbers.
Organizing the festival during wartime has imbued it with a broader significance, according to Isaienko. He believes that providing spaces for people to connect, acquire new skills, and spend time together is crucial for maintaining well-being during a prolonged conflict. "You need to get away from the war for a while," he stated. "Leave Kyiv and come spend some time here together, a little longer than usual."
Instructors at the festival guide first-time climbers, assisting them with harnesses, chalking their hands, and identifying holds on the 25-meter (82-feet) cliff. Reaching the summit, often a personal first, is met with applause from onlookers, instructors, and fellow climbers.
Liliia Karpach, 21, traveled from the Lviv region for her first Stoned Climbers festival. "I decided to come because it had been a very long time since I’d climbed on real rocks," she said. "I also wanted to meet the community in person and get to know new people." Karpach views climbing as both a mental and physical exercise and encourages others to try it, suggesting they invite friends for support.
Instructor Andrii Lamei, 24, finds assisting novice climbers in gaining confidence particularly rewarding. "Climbing helps you work with stress," Lamei said. "It helps you manage stressful situations in everyday life." While he dreams of climbing internationally, like most Ukrainian men, he is unable to leave the country due to wartime travel restrictions. "But maybe this is how I’m forced to enjoy what I have here," he remarked.
Isaienko views festivals like Stoned Climbers as vital for fostering resilience. Despite many Ukrainians pausing aspects of their lives due to the war, he hopes the growing community around the cliffs demonstrates that new traditions can still emerge. "This is a festival for everyone," he said, "including people who have never tried climbing before."