Our Advanced Rock Climbing course is for intermediate to expert rock climbers who have already completed their initial apprenticeship. Perhaps you’re a 5.10 climber looking to break into 5.11…or a 5.11 climber looking to break into 5.12? We will discuss your goals and aspirations as a climber, and then customize a course accordingly.

This course is available as a private or pre-existing group.

  • Choose whether this is a private (1 person) or an existing group. Prices are per person per day.
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  • Online booking is available 2 days from today (please call or email to inquire about earlier dates; we can often accommodate last minute requests). If you are booking for multiple days, this will be your starting date.
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  • We'll be in touch to work out specific details, but please briefly describe your outdoor background (relative to the course or guiding objective) and goals.
  • Please read and check the box if you agree to the policies.

    Online Bookings
    Online bookings are subject to guide availability and other factors such as weather and climbing conditions. After receiving your online booking, we will get back to you within 1 business day via phone or email to confirm your booking. In the event that we cannot accommodate your booking, you have the option of having your payment refunded or applied to a future booking.

    Payment
    SMG accepts credit cards, PayPal, checks, and cash. Payment is due in full 7 days before a booking (or at time of booking confirmation when a course/trip is less than 7 days away). An exception is made for payment by check or cash...in these cases, payment is due in full at or before the course/trip.

    Cancellations
    If you have to cancel your booking, please give us as much notice as possible. If you cancel 30+ days before the booking, we’ll apply the deposit/payment towards another booking at a later date or you can request a refund. If you cancel from 14-29 days before the booking, we’ll apply the deposit/payment towards another booking at a later date. If you cancel 13 days or sooner from the booking, for any reason, the deposit/payment is forfeited.

    Weather & Winter
    Winter courses/trips are rain or shine. If SMG cancels a booking due to weather, we will reschedule you for an alternate date of your choice.

Pay a 50% Deposit

Course Information

One thing is certain, if you have reached a plateau, we will focus all our energies to break through it. As Synnott Mountain Guides founder Mark Synnott points out: “I know this is true because I have been through every plateau myself, from 5.9 to 5.13. The key to breaking through these barriers usually has everything to do with our mental and psychological approaches to climbing. I have been continually amazed by how much we can improve simply by modifying our state of mind, expectations, or motivations.”

Do you get frozen with uncertainty and fear when you try to bust a hard move above your pro? This is a very common problem that climbers face, and one that we’ve all dealt with over the years. The good news is that we have techniques for helping you to discern the difference between rational and irrational fears. We’ll look carefully at protection and safety systems and we’ll help you to figure out how to separate real danger from other situations where a fall is okay. If all else fails, we may just get you up on a safely-bolted route and have you lob off a bunch of times, gradually increasing the lengths of the falls while teaching you how to fall gracefully and with little consequence.

In the Advanced Course, we will seek out some of the longer and more difficult routes at Cathedral Ledge, Whitehorse Ledge or Cannon Cliff. We have guided people on traditional climbs up to 5.12, so regardless of your skill level, we will have no problem finding the terrain appropriate for what you’re trying to learn. The Advanced Course also includes instruction in the all-important fine art of bailing. As Mark reminds us, “I have had many epic descents myself, including walls where we made nearly fifty rappels to descend, so I have many tricks in my bag to share with you.”

We’ll also talk extensively about training, what works and what doesn’t. If you are focused on building more physical strength (in addition to mental), we can help you to figure out a training program that fits into your lifestyle and work schedule.

Bottom line: you tell us what your goals are and we’ll figure out a way to get you there. As Mark’s father always told him growing up: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Mountains, Cliffs, & Routes

This course can be taught at cliffs including:

  • Cathedral Ledge
  • Whitehorse Ledge
  • Cannon Cliff
  • Sundown
Difficulty

Intermediate to Advanced

Length

One or Multiple Days

Season

Spring to Fall

Inquire

Have a question about Advanced Rock Climbing?