Trips

These are the courses and the trips you can book. Each location includes seasonal considerations, route types, and what to expect on your day out. Find your next objective and let’s plan your climb.

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Quickview Trip Options: Trad Climbing Clinic | Gunks Climbing | Adirondack Climbing

Trad Climbing Clinic

The ability to climb traditionally protected routes lets you access some of the prettiest places on Earth! Being able to independently experience the solitude and freedom of the hills is a joy like no other. This rigorous two-day course teaches you to place, evaluate, and trust your cam and nut placements.

The biggest obstacle people have when learning trad climbing is trusting the gear. We nip this right in the bud by first learning to place and evaluate solid gear placements, and then building a foundation of positive experiences by mock-leading trad climbs and weighting the gear with a top rope backup.

Whether you are completely new to trad climbing or already have some experience and want to build grounded confidence in your skills; this clinic is for you!

4:1 ratio maximum

  • We’ll meet at Rock and Snow in the Gunks at 9am on both days.

    Day 1: We’ll start the day with some introductions and a discussion on trad climbing. We will quickly jump into learning how to place and evaluate gear placements while on the ground. You’ll place a bunch of gear - including cams, micro-cams, tri-cams, and nuts - and then we will go around assessing gear placements. We’ll then talk about some trad-leading considerations before getting you on a top rope backup, mock-leading trad on easier climbs. I’ll assess your gear placements and give you feedback. On your next laps, you’ll start to weight and perhaps fall on your gear while backed up. Between laps, you can continue to practice on the ground with expert feedback. 

    Day 2: We’ll begin the day with a review of Day 1 and add some more nuanced considerations when placing gear. We’ll jump right into running more mock-lead laps, weighting, and assessing placements. We’ll take some time to discuss trad anchoring basics and practice anchor building at the ground level. Then we’ll continue to climb and get as much crack movement and gear placement mileage and feedback before wrapping up the day with discussions on the next steps.

    • What is Trad Climbing?

    • Cam and Nut Overview

    • Rock Quality Assessment

    • Cam Placement

    • Nut Placement

    • How to Evaluate Gear Placements

    • Understanding Crack Shape

    • Removing Gear from the Rock

    • Trad Leading Considerations

    • Extending Pieces

    • Racking Gear

    • Placing One Handed

    • Understanding How Much Gear to Place

    • Mock-Leading

    • Fear of Falling Progression

    • Anchor Building

    • Rock Type: Sandstone vs Granite vs. Quartz Conglomerate etc.

    • Basic Crack Climbing Movement Skills

  • Included:

    • Ropes

    • Harness

    • Shoes

    • Helmet

    • Local travel to the crag if needed

    • If you don’t have trad gear of your own that’s fine, we can use mine or share with others. I’d be happy to advise you on purchasing a rack.

    Not included:

    • Lodging / car rental

    • Food or snacks

  • Climbing Gear:

    • Helmet (available to rent if needed)

    • Harness (available to rent if needed)

    • Climbing shoes (available to rent if needed)

    • Some Anchor Materials (lockers, slings, cordalette)

    • Assisted Braking Belay Device (GriGri, Pilot, etc.)

    • Some Alpine + Quick Draws

    • Gloves

    • Any Trad Gear You Have!

    • 30+ liter backpack

    Clothes:

    • Sun Shirt / Hoodie

    • Sun Hat

    • Thin Pants for climbing

    • Solid Shoes for the approach

    • Warm Puffy Jacket (good for early Spring / late Fall)

    • Rain Coat

    Food:

    • Please bring your own lunch food and snacks.

  • To make the most of our time together please observe these prerequisites:

    • Some Lead Climbing Experience (sport or gym)

    • Some Outdoor Climbing Experience

  • We will meet at Rock and Snow to go over gear and depart from the crag together. For those familiar with the area, it is also possible to meet at Peterskill or the Trapps.

    If you are traveling from NYC and do not have a car, there is a good bus service that will drop you off minutes away from Rock and Snow.

  • This course abides by the policies set forth by Alpine Endeavors, LLC.

Gunks climbing guide

Gunks Climbing

Rising above the forests of New York’s Hudson Valley, the Shawangunk Ridge — better known as “The Gunks” — is one of the most storied climbing areas in the United States. Just 90 miles from New York City, these quartz conglomerate cliffs are packed with horizontal roofs, perfect cracks, and clean corners that make for some of the most unique and enjoyable climbing anywhere.

The Gunks are the birthplace of American free climbing and remain a proving ground for movement, creativity, and mental control. Every route tells a story — whether you’re floating through juggy overhangs at the Trapps, stemming in quiet corners of the Nears, or exploring the solitude of Millbrook.

This is real, adventurous trad climbing on solid rock with easy access, dramatic exposure, and unforgettable views of the Hudson Valley.

Explore the tabs and photos to learn more about some of the options and contact me to arrange a trip.

  • The most famous route in the East. A wild, airy traverse leads to an outrageous roof pull 150 feet above the valley floor. Accessible, photogenic, and absolutely classic.

    Difficulty: 5.6
    Length: 2 pitches

  • A sweeping line up an exposed face with big holds, big exposure, and a perfect ledge for belays. A Gunks must-do.

    Difficulty: 5.6
    Length: 3 pitches

  • Another Gunks moderate classic, and one that tests your thin finger crack climbing techniques!

    Difficulty: 5.6
    Length: 2 pitches

  • An elegant face climb with technical movement and perfect rock. There are several other moderate classics in the same area that can be combined for a full day of climbing.

    Difficulty: 5.8
    Length: 2 pitches

  • This imposing line dominates the beautiful face of Skytop, and as a pure a crack climb, is an anomaly in the land of roofs. Think you’ve got good hand crack techniques? Ringwraith delivers consistently pumpy and elegant crack moves all the way for 70 feet.

    Difficulty: 5.10
    Length: 1 pitch

  • Climbing Gear:

    • Helmet (available to rent if needed)

    • Harness (available to rent if needed)

    • Climbing shoes (available to rent if needed)

    • 18+ liter backpack

    Clothes:

    • Sun Shirt / Hoodie

    • Sun Hat

    • Thin Pants for climbing

    • Solid Shoes for the approach

    • Warm Puffy Jacket (good for early Spring / late Fall)

    • Rain Coat

    Food:

    • Please bring your own lunch food and snacks.

  • The Gunks truly has something for everyone - whether first time climbers or long-tenured trad climbers. I’ll meet you where you are and work with you on routes that will comfortably push you to the next level.

  • We will meet at Rock and Snow to go over gear and depart from the crag together. For those familiar with the area, it is also possible to meet at Peterskill or the Trapps.

    If you are traveling from NYC and do not have a car, there is a good bus service that will drop you off minutes away from Rock and Snow.

Adirondack Mountains climbing guide

Adirondack Climbing

Tucked deep in New York’s northern wilderness, the Adirondack Mountains offer some of the most diverse and adventurous climbing in the Northeast. Granite domes rise from quiet lakes, cliffs hide among forests, and sweeping walls tower above pristine valleys — this is true backcountry climbing, where solitude and wild beauty meet impeccable stone.

The Adirondacks are vast — larger than Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon combined — and they offer everything from roadside trad routes to long alpine-style missions. Every climb here feels like a journey - this is New York’s alpine playground: remote, quiet, and incredibly rewarding.

Explore the tabs and photos to learn more about some of the options and contact me to arrange a trip.

  • Nestled in Keene Valley, this multi-pitch classic offers spectacular views of Cascade Pass - you won’t want to miss it!

    Difficulty: 5.7
    Length: 3 pitches

  • This classic single pitch area offers climbs for everyone - from 5.4 to hard 5.11.

  • Beautiful slab climbing reminiscent of the Flatirons of Boulder can be found here. We need to cast off on a canoe to approach this climb, so expect a fun and full day of adventuring!

    Difficulty: 5.5
    Length: 3 pitches

  • This is highly dependent on our objective, and I will work with you to come up with the right gear for the route. At a minimum, you will need:

    Climbing Gear:

    • Helmet (available to rent if needed)

    • Harness (available to rent if needed)

    • Climbing shoes (available to rent if needed)

    • 18+ liter backpack

    Clothes:

    • Sun Shirt / Hoodie

    • Sun Hat

    • Thin Pants for climbing

    • Solid Shoes for the approach

    • Warm Puffy Jacket (good for early Spring / late Fall)

    • Rain Coat

    Food:

    • Please bring your own lunch food and snacks.

  • There is truly something for everyone here, and I'll meet you where you are to select an appropriate objective. For more remote or technical climbs, prior climbing experience is needed to ensure an enjoyable experience.

  • This is highly dependent on the objective. For less committing climbs, The Mountaineer often serves as a good meeting place. For other objectives, I will work with you to discuss the best meeting location.