Clinics & Instruction
Yarrow Mountain Guides offers a number of clinics for climbers looking for group experiences to expand their skills. Our skill-building clinics and community climb days are scheduled throughout the year, all designed to empower you to expand your technical abilities and get you climbing outside independently! Offered in collaboration with courses at the Santa Fe Climbing Center, all of these courses have an optional indoor component. To book the indoor clinics separately, please visit www.climbsantafe.com
Gym to Crag
Topics:​
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Equipment
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Guidebooks and Resources
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Places to Climb
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Setting up Top Ropes on Bolts
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Cleaning Sport Anchors
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Leave no Trace Environmental Ethics
​Our Gym to Crag curriculum is perfect for anyone looking to make the transition from climbing in the gym to climbing outside. Paired with the Gym to Crag course offered by the Santa Fe Climbing Center, the outdoor curriculum will expand on topics covered in the initial session and give you opportunity to practice applying what you learned! All are welcome to sign up for this course, regardless of participation in the indoor component. This course focuses on some fundamentals of sport and top-rope climbing systems, but does not address traditional climbing or lead climbing.
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Duration: 3-4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. All clinics meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: 6/22 & 10/12
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*Are you interested in these skills but these dates don't work for you? Schedule a private trip and we will design a curriculum to meet your needs and develop your skills. Private trips can be booked here.
Anchor Building
Topics:
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Building a S.E.R.E.N.E. anchor
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Side-by-side anchor building technique
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Personal anchor systems
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Building anchors on bath natural features (trees, boulders, etc.) and using traditional climbing equipment (cams, nuts, etc.)
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Leave no Trace Environmental Ethics
This clinic is for those who want to expand beyond simple two-bolt anchor systems. Using all the same principles applied in building simple bolted anchors, you will learn how to set top ropes using a diverse set of tools common in the world of rock climbing
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Duration: 4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. All clinics meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: 7/6​
*Are you interested in these skills but these dates don't work for you? Schedule a private trip and we will design a curriculum to meet your needs and develop your skills. Private trips can be booked here.
Trad Climbing
Topics:​
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Placements of traditional climbing gear
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Building simple trad anchors
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Opportunity to practice leading on gear without the risk of a leader fall (mock leads)
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Leave no Trace Environmental Ethics
Although they very origins of modern rock climbing, trad climbing can feel inaccessible to even competent, established climbers. The cost of equipment, high level of technical skill required, and higher risk of trad climbing keeps many from engaging in the wide world of trad. Let us help unlock the mystery by providing a comfortable space to gain and practice all of the skills needed to get out trad climbing on your own!
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Duration: 4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. All clinics meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: 8/10
*Are you interested in these skills but these dates don't work for you? Schedule a private trip and we will design a curriculum to meet your needs and develop your skills. Private trips can be booked here.
Crack Climbing
*Are you interested in these skills but these dates don't work for you? Schedule a private trip and we will design a curriculum to meet your needs and develop your skills. Private trips can be booked here.
Topics:​​
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Fundamentals of crack climbing technique
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Learn a variety of hand and food placements
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Practice climbing different types of cracks (splitters, dihedrals, off-widths)
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How to make tape gloves
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Leave no Trace Environmental Ethics
The art of crack climbing feels elusive and unintuitive to those unfamiliar with the technique. Many accomplished climbers set out on their first crack climb unequipped with proper technique and flail wildly, making the movement much harder than it needs to be. Let us ease the learning curve for you! With this course, you will find yourself hand- and foot-jamming your way through crack climbs with ease.
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Duration: 4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. All clinics meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: 6/8
Rescue Skills
Topics:​
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Escaping the Belay
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Picking Off a Climber
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Rappelling With an Injured Climber
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Various knots and hitches
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Leave no Trace Environmental Ethics
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The rescue skills clinic will make you a better and safer climbing partner for those you care about! Learn the basics of how to take care of yourself and others in common rock climbing scenarios. If you intend to climb in remote environments, the ability to rescue yourself and your partner is essential.
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Duration: 4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. All clinics meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: 9/7
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*Are you interested in these skills but these dates don't work for you? Schedule a private trip and we will design a curriculum to meet your needs and develop your skills. Private trips can be booked here.
Community Climbs
Designed to make outdoor rock climbing more accessible to the Santa Fe community, our Community Climbs days offer a relaxed, semi-guided day out at the crag. These trips are perfect for someone who lacks the gear or experience to get outside on their own, but don't feel the need for a privately guided day.
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Duration: 4 hours. Trip duration does not include travel time, which ranges between 30 minutes and 1 hour each way. Community Climbs meet in Santa Fe at 9am.
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Rates: $110/person
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2024 Schedule: The last Saturday of every month, April to October.
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