Blue Flowers
08
The Cairn Catalogue Field Guide
Chapter 08
Cairn Projects
Prepare for competitions, understand how each format works, and know what happens from registration through the final result.
Community Events
Know the format before you register.
Cairn Projects are organized community events built around climbing, route-setting, and competition.
Different formats work in very different ways. Speed, Least Falls, and Buffless use qualifying runs and Live Finals. Route-Setting is decided by community voting, while Jams use redpoint submissions and a prize raffle.
Registration is a commitment to take part in the event you joined, so it is important to understand the format and prepare before it begins.
In This Chapter
Before You Compete
Prepare at The Dome
Before a competition begins, it is recommended that you reach The Dome and wait at its bivouac.
The Dome is not where every competition is held. It is simply a useful staging area because you can prepare there and rappel back down toward many competition routes once the route is revealed.
Try to arrive with enough ingredients to make at least 30 minutes of drinkable buffs.
Recommended Staging Area
Wait at The Dome's bivouac.Prepare there until the competition route is revealed.
Game Settings
Make the trip easier.
Your selected difficulty does not affect your eligibility for a Cairn Project competition.
RecommendedAlpinist
RecommendedExplorer
AllowedNo Survival
AllowedAutosaving
AllowedHolds Feedback
AllowedHighlight Limbs
Free Solo is not recommended.
A fall in Free Solo can return you to the beginning of the game. For a scheduled competition, Alpinist or Explorer is the safer choice.
Before
Infinite Gear & Resources
Recommended while traveling to the competition staging area.
→
During
Infinite Gear & Resources
Must not be used during the competition attempt.
During
Fall Rewind
Fall Rewind cannot be used during a competition attempt.
Supplies
Ultimate Infusions
The best way to prepare a large supply of buffs is to make Ultimate Infusions.
Start With1 Blue FlowerGentian or Juniper
Add2 Common FlowersAny combination
ResultUltimate InfusionDrinkable buff
Blue Flowers
Juniper
Less commonAdd Any Two
NettleWild GarlicDandelionPlantain
Always begin with the blue flower.
An Ultimate Infusion must be started with Gentian or Juniper. It is recommended that you use only one blue flower in each infusion so that your remaining blue flowers can start additional Ultimate Infusions.
Important
Do not mix your infusions before reaching The Dome.
Aava drinks all of her liquids during The Dome's cutscene. Leave your ingredients in flower form in your backpack until you have reached The Dome and completed the cutscene.
Speed · Least Falls · Buffless
Qualifying Runs
Speed, Least Falls, and Buffless competitions begin with a qualifier. When the competition starts, an existing route from the Catalogue is revealed to the competitors.
Each competitor climbs that route and submits a full YouTube video of the run from start to finish.
Route revealed
The qualifying route is announced when the competition begins.
Complete your run
Climb the route from start to finish under the rules of your format.
Upload the video
Submit the complete run as a YouTube video for judging.
Judges score it
Staff rank the run according to the priorities of that competition format.
Judging Priority
The order changes by format.
Judges compare the first category first. The second category is only used when needed, followed by the third.
Format1st2nd3rd
Least FallsFallsChalkTime
BufflessFallsChalkTime
SpeedTimeFallsChalk
The first priority always wins.
In Least Falls and Buffless, fewer falls outrank chalk and speed. In a Speed competition, the fastest time ranks first, followed by falls and then chalk.
TOP2
Advancement
The top two move on.
Once qualifying runs have been reviewed, the official top two competitors advance to the Live Final.
If you are not one of the official top two finalists, your participation requirement ends after you complete the qualifier.
Competition Format
Route-Setting
Route-Setting competitions are decided by the Cairn Catalogue community instead of judges or a Live Final.
01Create
Each competitor creates a new route.
02Submit
Submit the route through the Route-Setting competition page.
03Vote
Cairn Catalogue users vote on the submitted routes.
04Win
The route with the most votes wins.
Community vote decides the winner.
Route-Setting competitions do not use the qualifier and Live Final system used by Speed, Least Falls, and Buffless.
Cairn Project
Jams
A Jam takes place within a specific Area. When the Jam begins, five routes in that Area are revealed.
Participants attempt to redpoint those routes and submit proof of each successful ascent.
Route01
Route02
Route03
Route04
Route05
Redpoint
Submit Proof
Raffle Entry
Prize Raffle
Each redpoint gives you another chance to win.
Each approved redpoint ascent adds your name to the raffle. With five routes available, a participant can earn multiple entries by completing multiple routes.
At the end of the Jam, one winner is drawn and takes home the prize.
Final Round
Live Finals
The official top two qualifiers in Speed, Least Falls, and Buffless continue into a livestreamed Live Final.
You qualify
The official top two competitors advance after judging is complete.
Notification & email
Both finalists receive a Cairn Catalogue notification and an email containing a link to the Scheduling Room.
Agree on a time
The two finalists use the Scheduling Room to agree on a date and time for the Live Final.
Final is scheduled
Once both finalists agree, the Live Final is scheduled for that date and time.
Streaming Requirements
Have your streaming setup ready before you register.
Twitch, YouTube Live, and direct console streaming are acceptable. A computer or OBS is not required if your console can stream directly and the stream clearly shows your gameplay.
If you stream from a computer, your broadcasting software and game capture should already be configured and tested. Participants are responsible for testing their streaming account, capture setup, console connection, and internet connection before competing.
YouTube Live
Enable livestreaming well before the competition. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours.
Twitch
Direct console streaming is fine. Computer streaming requires working broadcasting software such as OBS, Streamlabs, or another compatible encoder.
Stream quality
Gameplay must be clear and stable enough for Cairn Project staff to verify the run.
Qualifying for the Live Final extends your participation commitment.
If you finish as one of the official top two finalists, the competition is not finished for you. You are required to continue through the completion of the Live Final.
Scheduling Rule
One reschedule with at least 24 hours' notice.This applies only to Live Finals and does not create a general withdrawal option.Registration Commitment
Register only if you intend to participate.
Cairn Project competitions and Jams are limited to 10 participants. Registering takes a place that another climber could have used.
Registration is a commitment to participate through the full event. There is no withdrawal option after signup.
No-Show Consequence10-Day
Cairn Project blackout
Failing to participate after registering, or qualifying as a top-two finalist and then failing to attend or complete the Live Final without following the Live Final rescheduling rule, may result in a 10-day Cairn Project blackout.
Before Competition Day
Ready to compete?
01
Reach The Dome and finish its cutscene.
02
Bring enough flowers for at least 30 minutes of buffs.
03
Mix your Ultimate Infusions only after the cutscene.
04
Wait at The Dome's bivouac until the route is revealed.
05
Disable Fall Rewind and Infinite Gear & Resources before the competition attempt.
06
If your format can advance to a Live Final, make sure your livestreaming setup is already tested.
Ready to Participate
Visit Cairn Project
See active projects, upcoming registration periods, competition history, and current results.