In August 2019, I co-organised the fourth annual Women's Trad Festival. The festival aims to help bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor climbing, and provide women with a welcoming and supportive environment in which to do so. It helps them meet likeminded women with whom they can build friendships, and it helps to create a network and a community of climbers who can all learn from each other and thrive together.
Our three core values are sustainability, mental wellbeing and accessibility, and these values are woven into everything we do at the festival.
In its fourth year, the festival had over 300 attendees, of all age ranges, genders and backgrounds. It was sponsored by Rab, DMM, the BMC, Mountain Training, Tenaya & Outside.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/d1eb9c72-e1f1-4a96-982d-d47245b6dfd2/1/1/Charlie_Low_WTF2019_DSC_8804.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2019
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/38a384ab-ea17-435d-8fce-638cc371a76b/1/1/DSC_8580.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2019
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/8820684e-5278-44b4-8a83-bca9274bdfae/1/1/Charlie_Low_WTF2019_.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2019
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/7ef6bf6c-d38c-4463-a24b-5941d377b737/1/1/Charlie_Low_WTF2019_DSC_8947.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2019
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/4a85345a-3d02-476a-a3c6-131ffb41ec77/1/1/DSC_2789.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/cde8d913-08b9-41c0-a166-6ba3a86c3403/1/1/DSC_2645_2_.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/d61232f4-26e1-4654-9b83-6b2385d9bb0a/1/1/DSC_2688.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/6b90b504-0e10-4d0b-a710-35a42ec7b1be/1/1/DSC_2410.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2430,3641,700,3641/0-0-0/2f409ba7-6810-4694-9878-b6b49c98e420/1/1/DSC_2334.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=d94fe6a3f4d183209af34b7198befabe743280f4bfc9c030744e2f62c210a5af)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/d0e09158-4f51-4d41-be0d-be1642010570/1/1/DSC_2214.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/567a96e1-66ad-41d8-9a77-31e5be851f74/1/1/DSC_1835.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3641,2430,700,2430/0-0-0/a7e8e2f2-c845-498f-8822-874a76d86499/1/1/DSC_1820.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ba8f9142a23612d722ce65ff2a511bcad95e76cb5055e65984d6bf3c71c7bb49)
WTF2018
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2430,3641,700,3641/0-0-0/3793466d-bfc3-4e50-bb79-464361bbdca7/1/1/DSC_1762.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=d94fe6a3f4d183209af34b7198befabe743280f4bfc9c030744e2f62c210a5af)
WTF2018
×![Meg White learning to trad lead with Mountain Leader Tom Ripley at Women's Trad Festival 2017](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/05abff03-71a5-4a6e-8f1a-4e345b8457c0/1/1/DSC_9345_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/b6df3001-5cce-4923-b177-3add56b926b8/1/1/DSC_9324_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ccf17b1a3da6cf7edac55025393e0bbbc38cec1bd365c9fa7e481aaa13480f20)
![Teaching trad climbing at Women's Trad Festival 2017](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/194be57a-9711-4b33-bc71-7610c97b908d/1/1/DSC_9287_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![Teaching top set up at Women's Trad Festival 2017](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/b3e1981c-2258-4ac4-8e64-5d951598ee10/1/1/DSC_8732_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ccf17b1a3da6cf7edac55025393e0bbbc38cec1bd365c9fa7e481aaa13480f20)
WTF2017
×![Climbing on gritstone at Birchen Edge on Women's Trad Festival 2017](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/b5bc5f60-20d0-49b9-b9e9-371aac28c246/1/1/DSC_8724_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![MIA Cath Wilson giving a talk at Women's Trad Festival 2017](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/52ed7dbd-a6f9-4cef-aba2-0edd0bd4a476/1/1/DSC_8578_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=ccf17b1a3da6cf7edac55025393e0bbbc38cec1bd365c9fa7e481aaa13480f20)
WTF2017
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/cf1eacd3-c616-46cc-9a2d-bbde92e183a1/1/1/DSC_8622_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![Teaching gear placement at Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/6cffdb6a-f144-4473-99e7-bb82d13afd7c/1/1/DSC_2384_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![Scoping out a route at Birchen Edge at Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/4b83bc93-3adf-4641-9cb5-c426a64a7172/1/1/DSC_2439_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467869~hmac=266cd922dd5aa004b64666fd23f19f4574ec2b8c5dbb4a89a414f9dff4d9c798)
WTF2017
×![A leader teaching a group of climbers at Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/40c60494-ca8d-41c0-9ee6-07732e4abdec/1/1/DSC_2415_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467870~hmac=1781d223a87f0f6a2d222815f9485afdbc0a0c189c810b7ed5da3cfa70666019)
WTF2017
×![Leading at Birchen Edge on Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/2a156cf0-6d22-40b5-ab47-91aa4eb9c828/1/1/womens-trad-festival-2016_29489063794_o.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467870~hmac=1781d223a87f0f6a2d222815f9485afdbc0a0c189c810b7ed5da3cfa70666019)
WTF2017
×![Placing gear on a first trad lead at Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/9428de3e-b316-48f6-b279-ac99ef148efa/1/1/DSC_2458_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467870~hmac=1781d223a87f0f6a2d222815f9485afdbc0a0c189c810b7ed5da3cfa70666019)
WTF2017
×![Enjoying the atmosphere at Women's Trad Festival 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/837c1f3e-a61c-4256-96e0-64f77117b084/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/88d39a41-82cf-42ca-ad97-a4db18055ae3/1/1/DSC_2451_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037467870~hmac=1781d223a87f0f6a2d222815f9485afdbc0a0c189c810b7ed5da3cfa70666019)
WTF2017
×