Alpine Rock Climbing Skills Course on Mt. Lemmon

​Amazingly enough, The McDowell's supplies the beginner alpine climber with a great venue in the Desert Southwest for building upon your climbing skills and honing the craft for the alpine environment. The Alpine Rock Skills Course utilizes amazing local climbing areas as the classroom to teach vital alpine climbing skills. The McDowell's provides the perfect setting for you to learn the necessary skills and leave the course as a competent climbing partner with the knowledge and ability to begin your own alpine endeavors.

Our single-day Alpine Rock Climbing Skills Course is designed for those who are new to alpine rock climbing and would like to experience what the backcountry has to offer and gain valuable skills for future mountain adventures. This is the perfect course to satisfy your curiosity if you’ve been thinking about transitioning to more backcountry climbing routes in the surrounding regions of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains or other Western mountain destinations such as the North Cascades, Sierra's, or Tetons.

COURSE OUTCOMES

This course is designed for the person looking to learn the skills and techniques to start climbing in alpine environments. These skills will be learned in the climbing areas around Phoenix, where you will be climbing on amazing granite and surrounded by some of the most beautiful vistas and wildlife Arizona has to offer:
  • Belaying & Rappelling methods for moving swiftly over 3rd class to low-5th class terrain in the mountains
  • Alpine anchors and application
  • Route planning, maps, and GPS navigation techniques
  • Trip planning, packing, & gear selection
  • Wilderness Travel and LNT principles
  • Technical climbing instruction on rock

COURSE MEETING LOCATION

INCLUSIONS​
  • Guiding and Instruction with an AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide
  • Supplemental equipment available upon request

EXCLUSIONS
  • Transportation to Tom's Thumb Trailhead
  • Hotel costs before, during, or after the outing
  • Guide gratuity
  • Lunch food or snacks
  • Personal hiking/climbing clothing and equipment​
  • All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.)
  • Costs associated with weather delays or other variables beyond the control of Granite Mountain Guides
Private Course Costs/8hr
​
1:1 | $400 pp
2:1 | $235 pp
3:1 | $200 pp
4:2 | $175 pp
DIFFICULTY
Select your preferred date below: