Special Events

Free Climbing Clinics in the Gunks'

Alpine Endeavors will again be offering free “climb smart” clinics once a month this season in the Gunks. Clinics are open to both beginners and to individuals who are able to climb on their own, are familiar with the equipment (including lead gear), and own their own equipment. Equipment will be provided for the beginner course only. Interested individuals for the other courses must supply their own gear including: helmet, harness, rope, carabiners, slings, belay device, cordelette, and rock protection. Helmets and day passes are mandatory.

Topics covered:

Rock Climbing for Beginners– for those of you have always wanted to try rock climbing but somehow never did, now is your chance. We’ll start from scratch and cover the basic commands, knots, explain the equipment, and show you how to move over the stone. - Please see our AMGA SPI Assessment dates for these - we need volunteers for day two of the assessment.

Gear Placement and Anchor Building – proper placement of nuts, tri-cams, cams, etc, and ways to build anchors for use to belay off of and/or for top roping.

Rope Tricks Everyone Should Know – Covering: coiling the rope, knots, hitches, and more.

Self-Rescue - tie off a belay, escape the belay, create a hauling system, create a lowering system, perform an assisted rappel to pick a partner off the cliff and rappel down.

Rappelling Safety and Ascending – Proper ways to set up rappels on single and multi-pitch routes such as: tying of ropes together, rappel back ups, anchor choice, snag prevention, and ascending to free a snagged rope.

Ask A Guide... – Do you have questions on certain climbing skills or techniques, we’ll do our best to answer them. Open to any climbing related questions, hopefully with answers that you can practice on that day.

Ethically Using the Preserve Bolt Anchors (all dates) – Ethical and proper ways to use bolts on the cliff for rappelling and in anchor usage.

These clinics are offered for free, however we have some requests/requirements:

1) Sign ups are only allowed three weeks or less prior to the date of the clinic you are interested in.

2) We require anyone signing up to Register with us.

3) Each interested person must register individually (each person must sign up his/herself, you can not sign up three people at the same time)

4) We require you to commit to the day you register for. If you choose not to attend, please let us know so we can give your spot to someone else. Cancelling last minute or deciding not to show up ruins it for those on the waiting list.

5) Clinics are cancelled in inclement weather. Please check in with us if the weather is looking questionable.

Scheduled Dates:

2012 - Gunks Climbing Film Festival
October 9th 2012 - sign up at Rock and Snow.