Advanced Climbing

Locations Include: Looking Glass Rock, Linville Gorge, Cedar Rock, Whitesides, Laurel Knob, etc.

Timing: Typically 8am-4pm (This is flexible! Let us know when you’d like to start and end and we will do our best to make it happen.)

What to bring:

• About 2 liters of water

• Food for the day - we will likely not be near the car, so plan to pack a sack lunch that you can pack with you

• Rain jacket and appropriate warm layers - in the summer, it rains frequently. Better safe than sorry!

• Close toed hiking shoes

• Backpack - we have extra backpacks for you to borrow if you do not have your own

Climbing gear - if you own climbing gear, feel free to bring it. If not, we can take care of all of the necessary gear!

What to Expect:

If you're ready to leave single-pitch climbing behind, multi-pitch climbing in the Southeast is where the adventure truly begins. These are full-day experiences — typically 6 to 8 hours — built for climbers who already have some outdoor experience and are hungry for more vertical terrain, more exposure, and that genuine summit feeling.

You'll meet your AMGA-certified guide or instructor at a designated trailhead in areas like Looking Glass Rock, Linville Gorge, or Red River Gorge. After a quick gear check, you'll head up routes that link multiple consecutive pitches, giving you a sustained climbing experience that single-pitch days simply can't match. The pace and focus of the day will depend on your goals — some climbers are chasing a specific route, others are working to sharpen their technical skills in a real mountain environment.

Depending on your experience level and objectives, the day may cover:

• Multi-pitch systems & rope management — efficient transitions, stacking rope, and managing the anchor

• Lead climbing outdoors — placing protection and committing to longer runouts on natural rock

• Advanced anchor building — constructing and evaluating gear and natural anchors

• Route reading & route finding — navigating longer, more complex lines in the field

• Managing exposure & mental game — building confidence at height and in committing positions

• Partner communication — signals, systems, and climbing efficiently as a team