Ok, question: How many climbers does it take to build a picnic table? One chief and about 20 or so volunteers, is the answer to that riddle.

Day three of the Squamish Mountain Festival and a 9.am start (coffee and muffins were the incentive provided to get us up after last night's after party), to spend the day helping to clear crags, build stairs and picnic tables near Neat & Cool in the Bluffs area.

The idea is give a little back to an area that provides so many climbers with such a fantastic playground and make a few new friends in the process.

Tyrone Brett, President of the Squamish Access Society was on hand with members of MEC to distribute tools and tasks to about 20 volunteers from near and far who donated their time.

"It's a chance for us to contribute to the community and give back in a very social setting. As local climbers, we recognize the need to be stewards of our environment and although we might not be as organized as the mountain bikers are when it comes to the trails, little by little we're getting there.

It was a perfect day to be outside working on the tasks at hand and chatting to new found friends. Carolina, I think won the prize for coming the furthest to participate, she is visiting from Colombia. Having seen the festival advertised whilst she was staying in Vancouver and as an avid climber, she jumped at the opportunity to participate in the festival at the grass roots level.(Oh, excuse that pun, a day of cutting back brambles and scrub gets to you!!)

"we don't have this kind of volunteer system at home for our trials and crags, I'm very inspired with what is happening here and want to carry this sense of community back with me when I go home."

So next time you're at the Bluffs, and you park your arse down on a beautiful picnic bench, to drink your skinny latte whilst you browse through the guide book deliberating over which crag to bag that day. Give a little thought to the volunteers who made it all possible!