The Koocanusa Krank draws rock climbers from many locales as the Stone Hill Climbing Area’s quartzite cliffs are considered among the best in Montana.

The weekend of Sept. 19 saw nearly 100 climbers compete in the fourth revival of the event that began - well no one truly recalls when it started, but it was last held in 1993. Thirty years later, the Northwest Montana Climbers Coalition worked with the Access Fund, American Alpine Club and the Kootenai National Forest to host the first revival in 2023.

Whitefish’s Kim Givler of the Climbers Coalition and director Emily Smith were busy bustling about registering climbers and keeping everything running in reasonably orderly fashion.

“We’re happy to keep it running after it was dormant for so many years,” Smith said.

Traveling hundreds of miles to do anything in Montana isn’t unusual, but two competitors traversed more than halfway across the country. 

Blairsville, Georgia’s Karen Reff was 2,300 miles from home while Pond Creek, Oklahoma’s Nick Harter was 1,600 miles away.

Reff, 54, a winner in the 50-and-over class a year ago, was third in the 35-54 class in 2026.

Hundreds of climbing routes on both sides of Lake Koocanusa provide routes ranging in difficulty from 5.5 to 5.13-plus on land in the Kootenai National Forest. 

The routes are primarily single pitch, but also include sport, mixed and trad lines.

One great climbing route, according to mountainproject.com, is the Ben Parsons Memorial Route. It is dedicated to the local legend many described as a really great friend, husband, father, son, brother, firefighter, paramedic, skier, and cyclist, who passed away in a skiing accident in an avalanche while descending Stanton Mountain in Glacier National Park in 2017. 

Climbers were greeted by perfect weather, too.

Climbing partners McKenzie O’Neil, 24, and Maddie Miller, 25, have great climbing in their neck of the woods with Gallatin and Hyalite canyons near Bozeman as well as the Humburg Spires Wilderness Study Area near Butte. But a chance to enjoy the picturesque scenery of Lake Koocanusa was too tempting.

“The weather couldn’t be better and the beautiful scenery is outstanding,” both agreed.

The goal for the competitors was to climb as many Stone Hill routes as possible between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., accumulating points as they go based on route difficulty and style. Completing scavenger hunt challenges could help boost a score, too.

Following the climb event, everyone retired to the Tobacco River Ranch in Eureka for a BBQ dinner, yoga, raffle prize giveaway, awards ceremony and bonfire. Top scorers in each age and gender category took home impressive prizes generously donated by event sponsors.

Whitefish’s Jake Frerk was the top point scorer in the event with 730. He competed in the men’s 35-54 age class.

Another Whitefish climber was the top scorer in the lady’s class as Edie Walker tallied 420 points.

In the men’s 17-and-under class, Sandpoint, Idaho’s Wyatt Neal was the winner with 210 points. In the men’s 18-34 class, Whitefish’s Ayden Douglas was first with 575. In the men’s 55-plus class, Columbia Falls’ John Gangemi, 65, was first with 565. Gangemi was also the winner in the 50-and-over class in 2025.

In the female 17-and-under class, Mikayla Hebert was the winner with  95 points. Hebert repeated her title from 2025.

Red Deer, Alberta’s Jackie Watt won the 35-54 class with 320 points. Kalispell’s Denise Cox was the 55-plus winner with 260.

Members of Can-Am Lifeline Search of Rescue were also hand if needed, but they, too, were able to enjoy the picture perfect weather.

Kalispell's Nathan Brewer rappels down Room With a View at the Stone Hill Climbing Area during the Koocanusa Krank Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Lincoln County. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)