Alpine Endeavors

ROCK COURSES

We operate daily in the Shawangunks, on both the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park. Our regular rock season here runs from mid-march thru mid-november, however we do get out on the sunny days in winter as well. Watch the forecast and give us a call for some sunny winter days!.


Ryan Stefiuk finishing up on Square Meal at Millbrook, 11/8/05.

ROCK COURSES

Our instruction and guided climbing days are for all climbing abilities. Whether you have no experience and never climbed before, or you are a competent lead climber looking to expand on your techniques, we are here to help. We build our day(s) around your experience and aspirations. We believe everybody is unique and learns differently. Therefore, we always try to tailor the day(s) around your needs. We'll ask you what your previous experience is and what you hope to gain from climbing with us and take it from there.

We offer the courses below everyday unless otherwise noted. The rates are all the same unless otherwise noted, and we ask for at least a week notice for reservations. Please refer to our Rates and Reservations section for more information.

We will supply you with the all the necessary technical climbing equipment needed, please check out the Equipment page for what is actually supplied and what you'll be required to bring.

For directions during the days we cimb in the Gunks, or Catskills, please refer to the Directions page under Logistics, or download them from Downloads. Keep in mind that due to the variety of places we climb, we will meet in many different places and at different times. Please be sure to verify your meeting location with your guide.

If you're planning a few days with us, arrangements for accommodations can be made. Please refer to our Places to Stay page under Logistics, or e-mail me for more info. Below are some examples of the courses offered. We can very easily “custom build” a course to your specific needs. Please let us know if there is something you're looking for that isn't listed below.

Introduction to Rock Climbing:
This is for the person with no previous experience who wants to see what climbing is all about. All you need is the desire to climb! This is a 4-hour introductory course showing you the fundamentals of climbing: equipment and its proper usage, commands and climbing techniques.
^*There is a minimum requirement of 2 people.   Special cost $125 pp

Basic Rock:
This is for anybody who wants to learn how to rock climb. If you have little or no climbing experience, or who need a refresher, this is for you. You'll safely learn: equipment and it's proper usage and care, commands, safety checks, knots, climbing techniques, belaying skills and rappelling

Intermediate Rock
This is for those who have some previous experience and want to take it to a higher level. In this course you'll learn to: follow and clean leads on single and/or multi-pitch routes, knots, rope management, rope stacking, and rope coiling, rappelling with a back-up, and more climbing techniques.

Multi-day rock
For those wanting a complete outing is to combine the basic and intermediate courses into a 2, 3,4, or more day climbing trip. By the end of the trip you'll have a good understanding of it all as well as feeling comfortable on the rock.

Groups
Are you and a bunch of co-workers are looking to try a new thing? This is for boy scouts, church groups, youth groups, and employees/employers of a business and/or corporation.
Please call us for group rates

Private
Do you have something specific in mind, either some skills or specific route somewhere? This is for climbers of any level seeking intensified training. Private guiding and instruction allows a unique opportunity to expand and develop skills while maximizing your climbing time. Learn the skills you want while climbing a classic route! For example: Cannon cliff, Cathedral Ledge, Wallface in the Adirondacks, Mt Katahdin, Huntington ravine, Devil's Tower, etc.

Aid climbing
Aid climbing skills are useful in all climbing situations use it to round out your repertoire, or to get ready for multi-day adventures on big walls. During this 2-day course you'll safely learn: more involved gear placement, movement, ascending, knots, hauling, and how to set up a portaledge. An optional bivy on the portaledge is available.
This course requires the knowledge of lead climbing.
^*Limited to 2 participants per guide.

Learn to Lead
This is what it's all about! For those climbers who are ready to tie into the “Hot End” and begin leading, or for those beginning leaders who need a little more experience to polish their skills. Over two days, this course includes:
Proper gear placement, building solid anchors using both natural and artificial gear, preventing rope drag by using runners, rope management, double ropes, knots, route finding skills, etc. By the end of this course you'll be leading climbs with the protection of a top-rope.
^*Limited to 2 participants per guide.

Self Rescue
A must for all lead climbers! This is something that should be known by all climbers (leaders and followers), especially those who climb long routes and/or in remote areas. This 2 day course is designed to enable a climber to establish a self-rescue incase an accident occurred. With only the gear you have, you'll learn how to: Escape a loaded belay, tie off an injured climber, ascend or descend a loaded rope, knot passing, raise a partner, rescue-rappel and pick off an injured climber. We recommend you take some level of a wilderness medical course in addition to help you be more prepared. For more info on wilderness medicine contact SOLO (www.soloschool.com).
^*Limited to 2 participants per guide

Top rope set-up
This is for those of you who have the basic climbing skills and want to be able to get out and climb on your own. Over the 2-days we'll show you how to set-up top-ropes, including skills such as: Knots, natural anchors, rappelling with a back-up, belaying and how to do all this with confidence when you're out on your own.
For more advance options, add a third and fourth day and we'll include the use of artificial (cams, nuts, etc.) gear for the anchor building.

Top rope facilitators course
The TR facilitators’ course is a three-day course designed for outdoor leaders or those climbers wishing to develop a comprehensive top rope skill set.
The training focuses on a variety of technical skills; the first two days cover nature anchors (tree,boulders) and bolts, how to equalize them and build anchors, anchor extensions, instructor and student safety on rappelling, climbing instructional techniques, on-cliff rescue of a scared or stuck climber, belaying methods, and group dynamics/management.
The third day involves an evaluation in which the participants perform a various scenarios and we evaluate their progress.
The Top Rope Facilitators Course makes an excellent precursor to the AMGA Top Rope Site Management Course.

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course
The SPI has replaced the Top Rope Site Management Course offered up to 12/31/07 by the AMGA. The course is similiar to the TRSMC with the inclusion of leading single pitch routes up to grade 5.6.
This is a 5-day program that we offer with the AMGA. It is comprised of a three-day (30 hour) training course and separate two day (20 hour) assessment. This course will train you in the proper ways of setting up and instructing a group while working in single pitch terrain (including top-roping and leading single pitch routes). It provides a high level of the many needed skills and techniques which allow you to safely and confidently handle the situation. This course is for those who work as instructors or guides at Guide Services, Climbing Gyms, Outing groups, Camps, Schools/Colleges, etc. as climbing instructors now, or for climbers who are interested gaining the proper international skills to become one. After successfully completing the course and demonstrating that you provide a high level of knowledge and consistency, you will receive a certificate of completion from the American Mountain Guides Association and a one-year associate membership to the organization.
This course can run privately or in a group. You can also visit http://www.amga.com/programs/rock_SPI.php for more specific details. The rates for the SPI are specialty rates and are not listed on out Rates & Reservations page.
For upcoming dates please visit: http://www.alpineendeavors.com/courses/SPI.html
For more information on rates please contact us.

Destinations:
We offer our services for rock climbing in the following areas:
• Mohonk Preserve, NY
• Peterskill climbing area in Minnewaska State Park, NY
• Adirondack Park (Wallface, Roger’s Rock, Poke-O-Moonshine,
Keene Valley, etc.), NY
• White Horse, Cathedral Ledges, Cannon Cliff, Mt Washington, etc., NH
• Mt Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ME
• Shickshinny & Mocanacqua areas of PA
• Seneca Rocks, WV
• Boulder Mtn Parks (Flat Irons, Boulder Canyon, etc.), CO
• Eldorado Canyon State Park, CO
• Rocky Mountain National Park (thru Colorado Mtn School), CO
• Devils’ Tower, WY
• Needles, Black Hills, SD
• Red Rocks, NV
• Joshua Tree National Park, CA.