More Than 150 Climbers, Campers and Friends Cheer the Inaugural Schist-mas in July – by Adam Berthiaume

On July 25–27, 2025, the AMC-NH Mountaineering Committee organized the first-ever Schist-mas in July at the Barn Door Hostel in Rumney, NH. With support from across all AMC Mountaineering Chapters, we brought more than 150 climbers, campers, and friends together for a weekend of climbing, music, food, and plenty of Schist-mas cheer.

The idea came from our late Mountaineering Co-Chair, Manda Knight. Manda gave her time, energy, and resources to help new climbers find their way into the sport. And she was known for her gift of bringing people together. She also loved a good Christmas party. The name “Schist-mas” nods to both that tradition and to the schist rock that makes up the Rumney cliffs, a place Manda introduced many climbers to. Schist-mas in July was born to carry forward her spirit of lowering barriers, sharing knowledge, and creating space for people to connect.

Climbing and Learning

All weekend, climbers spread out across Rumney. AMC leaders ran clinics at Schist-mas on topics like self-rescue, multi-pitch systems, and anchors, providing participants tools and experience to bring to future climbing adventures. Some attendees were climbing rock for the very first time. Others were dialing in multi-pitch systems or learning self-rescue skills. AMC leaders from multiple chapters donated their time to run clinics and offered something valuable for climbers at every level. 

Camp Comes Alive

When the climbing wrapped up, the festival energy shifted to camp. Booking out the entire Barn Door Hostel campground felt ambitious at first, but by Friday night the field was packed with tents. By evening, it lit up with bonfires and holiday lights strung around tents transforming the camground into a festive light show; four bands played the night away under the stars.