U.S. rock climbers Beth Rodden and Tommy Caldwell, recently returned from Kyrgyzstan where they and two other climbers were held hostage by Uzbecki rebels for six days before escaping, will make themselves available to reporters at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Rocknasium, 720 Olive Drive, Suite Z, in Davis. Rodden, 20, of Davis, Calif., and Caldwell, 22, of Estes Park, Colo., were part of a foursome undertaking a six-week expedition in Kyrgyzstan's Kara-su Valley. The expedition, sponsored by The North Face, a technical outdoor equipment company, also included Jason Smith, 22, of San Francisco, and John Dickey, 25, also of San Francisco. Smith and Dickey are expected to return to the United States by the end of the week. Rodden and Caldwell will be accompanied to Thursday's media availability by their parents, Robb and Linda Rodden of Davis, and Mike and Terry Caldwell of Estes Park, Colo. Directions to Rocknasium: o From the east, exit Interstate 80 at Olive Drive. Proceed on Olive, past the intersection of Olive and Richards and continuing to the end of the street. Rocknasium is located at 720 Olive Drive, Suite Z, tucked into a corner of the large building and visible from the facility's parking lot. o From the west, exit Interstate 80 at Richards Boulevard. Turn right (north) at the light, onto Richards. Proceed one block to the intersection of Richards Boulevard and Olive Drive and turn left onto Olive. Rocknasium is located at the end of the street, 720 Olive Drive, Suite Z, tucked into a corner of the large building and visible from the facility's parking lot. Media contacts: -- Maril Stratton, News Service, (530) 752-3683, mrstratton@ucdavis.edu -- Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu (The UC Davis News Service is assisting with media relations because the Roddens all have ties to the campus: Beth was enrolled for two quarters before taking a break last year to concentrate on her climbing; Robb and Linda are both members of the UC Davis staff.)