March 22, 2026 – WinterFest
WINTERFEST IS BACK!!!
Looking for a spring primer on your trad skills? Join us for a day of hands-on clinical training that will get you primed and ready for spring climbing!
Building on our partnership with the Gravity Vault, we are happy to be bringing back our WinterFest.
Our full-day event will be packed with hands-on clinics for beginner as well as expert climbers.
These master classes will be taught by an all-star roster of local guides and will be offered on a rotating schedule throughout the day. A General Admission ticket entitles you to two clinics and access to the climbing gym!
Last year’s clinics sold out incredibly fast, and with limited slots per clinic be sure to book yours asap!
And we are beyond pleased to welcome back Jackie Pearce LMT from Hudson Valley RAPID to offer complementary ten minute RAPID NeuroFascial Reset sessions to get you out of pain and back to climbing at your best. Jackie was a huge hit at our flagship GunksFest last fall!
To close our event we’ll have a pizza party and Evening Social sponsored by Rock and Snow.
Please make sure you purchase the correct WinterFest tickets. When purchasing tickets, you must purchase a General Admission ticket, and then select up to 2 add-on clinics (free with General Admission). If you do not purchase a General Admission ticket, any clinics you sign up for will be cancelled. Any person selecting more than 2 clinics will be removed from the extra clinics.
Pay attention to the time and length of your clinics to make sure they do not overlap, and please be prompt for your sessions – they will start as scheduled.
This year’s WinterFest 2026 kicks off with two nights of the No Man’s Land Film Festival tour. Eight curated short films by and/or about women in the outdoors telling stories about climbing, arctic guiding, skiing, historic alpinism and more in this thoughtful and stoke-filled lineup. The 2 hour program with an intermission is being shown in proud partnership with the DENIZEN Theater in New Paltz with identical shows at 7:30 both Friday and Saturday March 20 & 21. Tickets are only $15 and available at denizentheater.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a discount for being a Gravity Vault member?
Yes. Tickets for those with valid GV memberships are $42.
Do I have to pay for clinics?
Nope – but you do have to purchase a General Admission ticket. Each ticket includes access to two clinics (but you have to register).
How do I register for clinics?
Register for clinics when you purchase your tickets by adding them to your cart. Please note that some clinics have group size-limits and you must purchase a General Admission event ticket in order to register for all clinics. Please limit your selection to two clinics.
Are tickets available at the door?
If the event does not sell out tickets will be available at the door. But purchase in advance to secure your clinic spots!
Can I show up early to climb?
Yes! But you must register between 11am-Noon with our check-in staff.
Is this event accessible?
Yes! Fully ♿️Accessible event. Entrance, parking, bathrooms, and climbing-area are accessible.
Is there a clinic limit?
Yes – all General Admission tickets are limited to two clinics. If you register for more than two clinics we will assign you to two based on availability.
Can I come for just the evening?
No, the pizza party and Evening Social is limited to General Admission ticket holders, clinic instructors, and event volunteers.
What should I bring?
Bring whatever you would normally have with you for gym climbing – your clinic instructor will reach out with specific requirements. Your credit card – we will be selling GCC T-shirts, stickers and GCC/Access Fund memberships. Don’t forget snacks!
What should I bring for the social?
If you’d like to bring your own plate and cup for the pizza party, it will help put less trash in the landfills. You can also bring something non-alcoholic to drink, or drinks can be purchased at the gym.
Can I buy tickets for someone else?
We want everyone to get a chance to get into the clinics they want, so we are limiting registrations to 1 person per clinic when you get your tickets and only 2 clinics per person. Each person should therefore purchase their own tickets.
Can I climb during the evening social?
Yes! The gym closes at 8pm, but you are welcome to climb up until then.
I have more questions.
Please use this GCC form https://gunksclimbers.org/festival-questions/ for any questions about the festival and ticketing. If you have a question related to climbing in the gym, the Gravity Vault’s phone number is (845) 462-1920.
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