New route2025
Bastion
Lookout Tower, Castle Mountain
- 5.10c
- 10 pitches
- Bolted
Part of the work that won Matt Laird and Andrew Slootweg the first Golden Crowbar.
By Matt Laird & Andrew Slootweg
Golden Crowbar 2025Crag in the app
The Association of Bow Valley Area Rockclimbers
Funding bolts and anchors in the Bow Valley since 1994
TABVAR is a volunteer-run non-profit. Donations from climbers and local businesses pay for the hardware on new routes and for replacing old bolts and anchors.
At a TABVAR course, 2023
Find a crag
Crag maps, topos and route details in the TABVAR app. No account needed.
Open toposReport a problem
Loose hanger, rusty bolt or worn anchor? Report it so a volunteer can fix it.
Report it in the appBuild or fix routes
Funding for new routes and retrofits, the yearly bulk hardware order, and tools to borrow.
For route developersHow TABVAR works
TABVAR is the financial link between climbers who want to support route development and the volunteers who do the work.
Climbers and businesses donate
TABVAR is funded entirely by donations. In 2025 it received 299 donations totalling $24,563.
TABVAR pays for hardware
It buys stainless bolts, anchors and glue in bulk, and reimburses volunteers who buy their own.
Volunteers do the work
In 2025, route builders put up over 113 new pitches and replaced over 150 pieces of old hardware.
Climbers report problems
Worn or damaged hardware gets reported in the TABVAR app, and volunteers pick it up from there.
Recent routes and retrofits
Some of the work TABVAR helped fund.
Retrofit2025
McDougall Slabs retrofit
McDougall Slabs
- Modern glue-ins
- Continuing in 2026
A crag that had fallen out of use because its hardware was old and untrustworthy, rebolted with modern glue-ins with the blessing of the original developers.
By TABVAR volunteers
Retrofit
New crag2024–2025
Birdwatcher's Crag
- 11 new routes
- 5.7 to 5.12a
A new crag that has proved very popular.
By Dan Padeanu
Golden Crowbar runner-upCrag in the app
Supporting Donor Program
Become a Supporter
Donate $40 or more for early access to the TABVAR Guidemap and an entry in the prize draw. At $100 you also get discounts at local shops and gyms. 160 people gave at that level in 2025.
All the detailsSupporter
$40or more
About the cost of one new anchor.
- Early access to the 2026 TABVAR Guidemap
- An entry in the October 1 prize draw
Super Supporter
$100or more
Everything Supporters get, plus partner perks.
- Two entries in the prize draw
- One year of Book of Stone premium
- 10% off memberships or 10-visit punch passes at the Canmore Climbing Gym
- 20% off retail at the Calgary Climbing Centre
- 15% off at MEC, Monod Sports, Vertical Addiction and UnParallel
Sponsors
Clubs, foundations and businesses that fund TABVAR, discount its hardware or offer perks to its donors.
MEC
More than $44,000 donated and over $50,000 in hardware discounts
Alpine Club of Canada
Support every year from the Calgary, Rocky Mountain and Saskatchewan sections
Micro Metal Software
$5,000 a year
Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation
$3,000 a year for retrobolting and hardware
AustriAlpin
More than 1,250 glue-in bolts at a discount since 2022
Sika Canada
Heavily discounted glue-in installation accessories
Coming up
- Supporters
Oct 1, 2026: Supporter prize draw
24 prizes worth over $3,100. Give $40 or more to be entered.
Become a Supporter - Climbers
Early October: 2026 Guidemap released to Supporters
Every newly approved route and retrofit from 2026, with beta and topos.
Get early access
Nothing scheduled right now.
Latest news
All newsIntroducing the Golden Crowbar
A community-driven award celebrating outstanding route development in the Bow Valley.
TABVAR launches the Supporting Donor Program
Two levels of support, with perks from local partners, to help keep Bow Valley climbing in great shape.