On July 7, 1989, Dan Freeman signed the Articles of Incorporation for Solid Rock – Climbers for Christ, formalizing a grassroots ministry that would share the Gospel with the climbing community. Just months later, Freeman passed away, but his vision lived on. Before Solid Rock’s formal founding, Freeman had helped form the Christian Climbers Association in Southern California, where he felt called to reach climbers with the good news of Jesus. 

With support from his home church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and a strong community of climbers with the same vision, he moved to Yosemite Valley in 1988 and began laying the groundwork for the ministry. By spring of 1989, he sent letters and resources to other climbers, leading to the first donations and the inaugural Climbers Conference that August in Tuolumne Meadows, a gathering that emphasized outreach over fellowship alone. As one of the founding members recalls, this is where the idea that “we do not exist to be a ‘Christian climbing club’ but to be an outreach mission to our fellow climbers” first took root.

After Freeman’s passing, a small group of members met to decide the ministry’s future. Doug Nidever became the new president, joined by Marty Snyder, John Blaubach, Greg Gearing, and Steve Hughes. Under their leadership, the organization grew steadily through the early 1990s, connecting with over a thousand climbers by mail and seeing real spiritual fruit through lives changed, believers encouraged, and the Gospel reaching unexpected places. Gary Scott then took over as executive director in the late 90s to continue this growth. 

In 1999, longtime Solid Rock member and pastor Calvin Landrus felt called to dedicate himself to ministry among climbers. His wife joined him in hosting a spaghetti dinner for 100 climbers in Yosemite, where they shared the Gospel. In 2003, Calvin shifted from local pastor and Solid Rock volunteer director, to full-time staff. Based in Bend, Oregon, he expanded the ministry, prolifically sent newsletters, equipped short-term climbing missionaries, and developed the pre-social media “Where Climbers Gather” online community forum to help climbers connect and grow in faith. 

The ministry began to host & serve at up to 30 annual events, writing devotionals, climbing together, and connecting around festival breakfasts & campfires. Calvin often drew parallels between climbing and faith, trusting one’s partner, overcoming fear, and surrendering self-reliance. Calvin led the organization as full time staff until he unexpectedly went home to Jesus in 2018.

Volunteers sustained the ministry until 2020, building up regional support, shifting to the use of the latter part of our formal name to the unambiguous “Climbers for Christ” and ensuring that the Gospel continued to be shared with the climbing community.

In March of 2020, Eli Conlee stepped into the role of Executive Director, a position he continues to hold today. As a long-time follower of The Way, Eli is stoked to help equip this community with the mentorship and resources we all need to be able to help all of our climbing friends experience the hope of Jesus. 

Climbers for Christ now works to share the Gospel globally through 40+ local communities that meet regularly and serve at local events. Through the ongoing work of God, under Eli’s direction, this previously all-volunteer ministry has now grown into a staff of three and is supported by a robust board of directors, and volunteers across the world. Even as Climbers for Christ continues to grow, the vision will be the same as it was in 1989: that every climber around the world will have the opportunity to experience and follow Jesus Christ.