Name Review Process

Overview

From the onX mission to awaken the adventurer inside everyone, Mountain Project (MP) commits to addressing published route names that have been flagged by the MP Community that discriminate, harm, oppress, or otherwise discourage individuals from climbing.

Flagged route names will be reviewed and considered individually according to the American Alpine Club’s Climb United Principles and Guidelines for Publishing Route Names. We commit to enlisting the help of allies, affinity groups, training, and ongoing learning and listening toward furthering inclusivity in climbing while honoring climbing traditions and culture as they evolve over time.

This page details the process we will follow to review published route names that have been flagged by the MP community. The complete Name Review Process for reviewing names flagged by the MP community, FAQ, and MP List of Unacceptable Words and Terms are below.

If you have any questions or feedback, please send to support@mountainproject.com.

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Flagged Name Review Process:

1. User flags a route name on the Mountain Project site (see #2 in FAQ for instructions)
2. The Community Review Group rates the flagged route name on a scale of acceptability, adding any additional context
3. Ratings and context from the Community Review Group are aggregated
4. An Internal Review Group at onX reviews the aggregated ratings and context for each name
5. If the Internal Review Group determines that a name DOES NOT meet the MP guidelines:
   1. The name is redacted on the route page
   2. An infotip is added to the route page to see the original name
   3. The First Ascenscionist (FA) is notified via email and invited to provide a new or revised name
   4. If no new or revised name is provided within 2 months, a generic placeholder is used
      1. Example syntax: [crag], [FA last name], [number]
      2. If the FA is deceased, best efforts will be made to reach out to climbing partner(s), family, friends, or the Local Climbing Organization (LCO) to determine if an honorary name can be used
6. If the Internal Review Group determines that the name DOES meet the MP guidelines:
   1. The name remains
   2. The flag is removed

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Why is Mountain Project redacting route names?

Please see this original forum post and the most-recent update post.

How do I flag a route name?

1. Log into your user account on the Mountain Project site
2. Navigate to a route page
3. Click the “Improve This Page” dropdown link
4. Select “Flag Discriminatory Name” link from the dropdown menu
5. Confirm flag for review

What happens once I’ve flagged a route name?

1. Flagged route names are entered into a database
2. The database is accessed by the Community Review Group to evaluate each name and provide additional context
3. The evaluations by the Community Review Group are used by an Internal Review Group at onX to decide whether a name will remain or if it will be redacted
   • FAs will be notified of any redacted names and invited to provide a revision or replacement

Can a route be flagged more than once?

A user can only submit one flag per route name, but multiple users can submit flags for the same route name.

Is MP renaming any routes?

The only new or revised route names accepted on MP will come from the FA or route developer. However, if an FA or route developer fails to provide a new or revised name within two months, we will assign a generic placeholder.

Who is in the Community Review Group?

This group is made up of representatives from climbing organizations on or adjacent to the Climb United Affinity Groups and Community Partners list as well as larger climbing brands and recognized climbers.

Who is in the Internal Review Group?

This group is made up of five onX stakeholders from onX Backcountry, Adventure Projects, Customer Experience, and the DE&I Committee.

How do I submit questions about this process or share feedback about a redacted route including if I think a name was redacted by mistake?

Please email content@mountainproject.com.

How are regional admins involved in this process?

Up to this point, we have asked regional admins to leave all names and redactions in place. As some of the most knowledgeable and integral members of the climbing community, we believe admins are in the best position to invite new or revised names from FAs or route developers once those final decisions have been made.

Finding and reaching out to FAs or route developers will take time as this is a fairly manual process.

Can I submit a suggestion for a new name after a redacted name has been given a generic placeholder?

After two months, a redacted name will be given a generic placeholder so that it can be differentiated from other routes. For now, we are not accepting new names from the community. If the FA is deceased, a new name will be invited from the FA’s partner(s), family, or LCO.

How do I know if a name has been flagged already?

This isn’t possible right now. The number of flags for any given route name is tracked and used as a data point when determining whether a name remains or is redacted.

What happens if a flagged route name is allowed? Can it be flagged again?

If a route name is determined to meet the MP Guidelines, the flags will be removed and the name will remain. New flags can then be submitted.

Will new names from FAs/route developers be sent to guidebooks and publishers?

We know that route names are used beyond Mountain Project and a route having more than one name makes for a confusing and bad user experience. We will track routes that have been renamed in order to provide that information to any guidebook authors or publishers.

Why isn’t one flag enough to redact a name?

Some names are obvious to the majority of climbers as needing to be changed. Others are not. One flag may not mean that a name gets redacted but it does mean that the name will be reviewed and have the opportunity for redaction.

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MP List of Unacceptable Words and Terms

Be advised! The provided list below contains extremely offensive and discriminatory language from previously flagged route names and the Climb United list of unacceptable words. The MP list is non-exhaustive and subject to review and change. These words cause harm in most, if not any context and will not be published on Mountain Project.