Guided Rock Climbing

Climbing Workshop (4-day)

$1495

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Matt Cairns
Matt Cairns

Our friendly office staff are ready to answer any questions and help you book your next adventure!

(800) 231-4575
Learn techniques and skills to transition from gym to crag
Practice gear placements and anchor building under the supervision of our certified Rock Guides
Enjoy the incredible climbing on granite domes of Southern Yosemite

 

Take your skills and technique to the next level. Small groups, expert guides, scenic wilderness and lots of great climbing make for a memorable and well-rounded experience. In addition to lots of time on the rock, you’ll learn about placing gear, building anchors, professional safety standards, advanced climbing techniques, rescue skills, and multi-pitch systems.

2024

July 18 - 21, 2024Book now
August 1 - 4, 2024Book now

Pricing

2023: $1495 per person

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Trip Itinerary

Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 1 - Meet your guide in Bass Lake, CA Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 1 - Meet your guide in Bass Lake, CA

Meet at the Pines Resort Bakery at 4pm. After a short trip orientation, you’ll follow your guide(s) in your vehicle to the climbing camp, a little over an hour away (all roads are accessible with a two-wheel drive vehicle, though an SUV style vehicle may be more comfortable on the dirt roads). We’ll set up camp and your guide(s) will prepare a welcome dinner for everyone. We’ll also ask you about your experience, skills, and goals for the trip and choose routes most appropriate for your interests and ability. We then pair up participants with others who share in the same goals. We strive to ensure a safe, rewarding, and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 2 - Single pitch climbing & skill building Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 2 - Single pitch climbing & skill building

After a hearty breakfast prepared by your guide(s), we head to the rock for a morning of single-pitch climbing. In addition to plenty of memorable time on the rock, you’ll receive personalized instruction from your guide(s) both on the ground and up on the wall. Typical classes include gear placement and anchor building as well as personalized technique instruction. Around 5pm, we return to the campsite where dinner, campfire, and conversation end the day’s activities.

Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 3 - Technical skills practice Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 3 - Technical skills practice

Today it’s back to the rock for another day of climbing. We’ll continue on with our educational goals, moving into more varied climbing terrain where you can practice and hone your technical skills. We’ll also present new topics such as basic rescue techniques, rope handling & efficiency, and/or multi-pitch scenarios. Around 5pm, we return to the campsite where dinner, campfire, and conversation end the day’s activities.

Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 4 - Final climbs & skill demonstration Climbing Workshop (4-day) - Day 4 - Final climbs & skill demonstration

Our final day begins with breakfast and then it’s back to the rock. In addition to climbing in a new area, we can spend this day in a variety of ways. Possibilities include multi-pitch climbs, practicing leading routes (mock leading only) or spending more time dialing in skills learned on the previous days. We’ll finish the day in the late afternoon.

What's Included

Accommodations

  • 3 nights of tent camping at a Sierra National Forest campground.
Gear

  • We supply all group camping and climbing gear (ropes, protection, stoves, cookware, water filters, group first aid kit, etc.).
  • Personal rock climbing and camping equipment is available by request: rock shoes, harness, helmet, sleeping bag, ground pad, and tents
Food

  • Starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 4
  • Backcountry gourmet meals including trail snacks
  • Hot tea or coffee served each morning

A Few More Notes

About your guide

Our professional rock climbing guides have spent years perfecting their climbing skills in and around Yosemite and hold relevant certifications. All of our guides are exceptionally personable individuals who look forward to not only teaching and guiding you in these spectacular locations, but getting to know you as well. Your guide will lead you through a teaching progression of skills designed around your current goals and objectives as well as our curriculum. Note that we do not facilitate actual lead climbing during our Rock Camp but can incorporate mock-leading as well as technique instruction.  

Travel & Logistics

SYMG Rock Camps begin with meeting your guide in Bass Lake, CA where you’ll have a brief orientation and introduction. Shortly after, you’ll can follow your guide in your own vehicle to the campsite where the group will be based for the duration of the trip. This quaint and rustic camp has basic amenities such as picnic tables, firepits and campground bathrooms. No shower facilities are available. Personal transportation is required for all of our Rock Climbing offerings, and there is currently no public transportation option in our immediate area. Keep in mind that the minimum age to rent a vehicle in California is 21.

Preparation

No experience required. We cater to all levels of physical and technical proficiency. However, a basic rock climbing class in the rock gym, reading rock climbing instructional books and watching rock climbing videos will all enhance your experience and lessen your learning curve.

What's not included
  • Personal clothing & footwear
  • Transportation to the rock climbing sites
  • Recommended 10-20% gratuity for guides
  • Trip Insurance
  • Airfare

Trip Reviews

Katie B, 2016

Both Nick and Riley were great guides. Rock camp exceeded my expectations and I am so happy to have gone on this trip. The daily meals were delicious! The group had a great chemistry and I learned so much. Thank you for the fantastic time!

Annette B, 2014

"Once in my lifetime I want to go rock climbing in Yosemite" was, what my husband Siegfried uttered a few months ago and what gave me the idea for my present for his 60th birthday. Trying to make such dream happen is however an endeavour with a certain risk when one tries to make the necessary arrangements from remote Germany and without too much knowledge of the local situation. My research on the internet brought me in contact with your team and Ian Elman in particular. From that time on everything looked pretty easy and doable even from a distance of some thousand miles. You set up a plan for a 3-days, private rock climbing "clinic", found us a pleasant accomodation at the Pines Resort at Bass Lake and were even able to get us an additional night within very short notice - thank you, Ian and Andrea. "Our" guide, Alex Kendrall, was a pleasure to "work" with. Alex impressed us not only by his excellent climbing skills and personality as a guide and instructor. His constant focus on the utmost safety was of the highest level we had seen from mountain guides in the Alps. Thanks to Alex these three days made the trip the "lifetime experience" my husband had looked for and left me very satisfied with the decision to trust on you experts at Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides.

Marian Y, 2010

My sister and I totally enjoyed our rock climbing adventure last week. The climbing was superb and the instruction was even better. Our guide was very thorough and extremely patient. He emphasized safety consistently which made us feel very secure. I learned a great deal in that short time and I thank you for a wonderful experience.
SYMG TIPS, TRIPS AND OFFERS!

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Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
Southern Yosemite
Mountain Guides
(800) 231-4575 info@symg.com (800) 231-4575 Local/International
+1 (559) 642-2817
Yosemite National Park, CA

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