STORY GORGE

beacon rock

Then and now

The Story

Beacon Rock was first climbed in 1901 by a steamship captain on a dare from his crew.  Since then, Beacon Rock has proven to test the strength of even the grittiest of climbers. This film is a celebration of the community of climbers who pushed the grade and found creative and daring ways of the cryptic terrain of the Pacific Northwest's largest free standing monolith. Legacies are sometimes hard earned and we salute those who have gone before. The full film is currently touring local climbing events and working to preserve the history of this iconic landmark in The Columbia River Gorge.

Jeff Thomas

Jeff is the author of several technical rock climbing guide books as well as the resident Climbing Historian for Oregon's oldest non profit, The Mazamas.  Jeff's passion for story and personal drive to capture the stories of this rock from the perspective of those who climbed it first.  This film was four years in the making and Jeff was with it every step of the way.  A master of rock craft and a dedicated keeper of the past histories of alpinism in the Pacific Northwest.