Last month the GEAR AID crew attended Yosemite Facelift 2024, a five-day cleanup event hosted by the Yosemite Climbing Association. This annual event in the national park is all about giving back to our public lands by picking up trash, taking care of different trails and crags, and learning what it means to be a good steward. For us, it was the perfect fit—repairing and patching gear for climbers, rangers, park visitors, means all of these folks can keep using their gear, and avoid sending it to the landfill. Being a good steward for public lands is just common sense.

Gear Repairs That Keep the Adventure Going

From Thursday through Saturday, our team were on-site offering free patchwork repairs using Tenacious Tape Repair Tape and Hex Patches. We also brought along our custom repair tool roll filled with things we use to create some top-notch repairs. If you're patching a lot of your own gear, we highly recommend some nice, sharp scissors and some isopropyl alcohol.

In just three days, we cranked out around 150 repairs on all kinds of gear—jackets, backpacks, sleeping bags, even a crash pad. Some of the repairs were quick and easy, but we also had a few that really stood out. One jacket came in with a huge rope burn that needed almost a foot of Tenacious Tape along the back panel, we hand-cut custom shapes of Tenacious Tape for climbers, and we had a couple of backpacks that I'm pretty sure were nearly made up of more Tenacious Tape than the original fabric by the time we were done with them. It was clear these items had been through some serious adventures, but they weren't ready to be retired yet. That's what we all love about the climbing community—climbers keep their gear for the long haul, and know that every patch and repair is a story waiting to be told around the campfire.

Connecting with the Yosemite Community

It wasn't just about fixing gear, though—we had some great conversations with folks who stopped by. Our team met Ken Yager, the climber behind the very first Facelift, and we heard so many incredible stories from climbers and park visitors about the history behind their gear.

One standout moment was when one of the park rangers brought us a pack that's been getting fixed at Facelift every year for the past several years. She was stoked that GEAR AID was there to help keep the tradition going, and it was awesome to be a part of something so meaningful to her.

Off the Clock Shenanigans

Ally and Duncan were a huge help throughout the event—talking gear, capturing moments, and helping things run smoothly. When we weren't busy patching stuff up, we got to explore Yosemite a bit ourselves. It's hard to beat spending your afternoons swimming in the Merced, hiking, camping under the stars, and of course, it wouldn't be a Yosemite trip without a little bit of climbing. Personally, it was my first time in Yosemite, and it was a trip I won't forget anytime soon. I even sent After Seven, 5.8, (with the last pitch and a half by headlamp in the dark!) with a buddy, which was a wild and unforgettable experience.

"Repairing gear at Yosemite Facelift was an amazing opportunity. Helping climbers who rely heavily on their equipment, we not only kept gear out of the landfill but revived a backpack that was literally pulled from the dumpster. Plus, doing this in such an awe-inspiring location made it even more special." —Duncan

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Yosemite Facelift 2024 was a big win for us, and we're already looking forward to next year. Seeing our Tenacious Tape on gear all over the park, and hearing how happy people were to get their stuff repaired, really reinforced what we're all about—helping folks keep their gear in use and out of the trash.



Next year, we're planning to bring an extra repair roll kit to keep up with the demand (it was even higher than we expected, which is a great thing). But overall, we couldn't have asked for a better experience, and we're stoked to keep building our relationship with the Yosemite Climbing Association and this amazing climbing community.

Written by Kira M.
GEAR AID's Marketing Associate