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Hey all,

I'm the High Adventure Coordinator at a college in TN. I plan monthly outdoor activities/excursions for student groups and would like to add a climbing trip to my schedule. I've stuck with gym climbing thus far but would like to introduce the students to genuine sport climbing. Anyone know of some good locations/guide companies that I could go through? I'd like to take them to the Gorge but I'm open to whatever. The only price I've seen for guided climbs in the Gorge was $90/per person for groups of 5 or 6, but I'd like to find a better group rate than that if possible. My program is fairly new and I don't operate on a huge budget. Thanks for any help, gang.

DVZ

www.redriveroutdoors.com or PM RRO on here.

Nice. Thanks for the link.

Personally, I'd look into climbing in Tennessee for your purposes. The Red River Gorge is overrun with climbers and you would have to wait all day just to get one person on a climb as groups cant "claim" a cliffline ( even guided parties have to abide by this). There are just too many people in the Gorge now and it would not be a lot of fun for your group. Not to mention the jungle-like envrionment in the summer AND tons of posionious snakes everywhere. The Obed area would be great for a trip and so would TN wall - both would be awesome. Heading South to Horsepens 40 would also be great as they are commercial and can accomodate your needs for a very small fee usually. There just aren't many good areas for group climbing the in the Red River Gorge.

RRO is also great too. And he know places without lots of snakes and people.

KD wrote:The Obed area would be great for a trip and so would TN wall - both would be awesome.

Tennessee Wall in summer... haha good one!!

Teach them to spot each other, then take them bouldering at rocktown or HP40. It would be a much more fun trip for everybody.

I agree - boulering there is a no-effort thing for new climbers. The rent crash pads cheap. Lots and lots of easy bouldering problems. Enough for for everybody to climb something. camping right by the boulders, food right there, and not all the snakes. Ive never seen a snake there. RRO would be good too though. He knows where the snakes are and can guide you around them. If it rained, Bram's gym would be cool too - and no snakes there either.

I would go no other way but than to hire an AMGA certified guide. I've been through some AMGA training, and personally know some certified guides with some of the highest certifications, best people and teaching skills, and with years of experience in guiding and climbing all around the world. I've been around the climbing community for about 8 years, and am currently in college studying Recreation and Outdoor Education at Western State College of Colorado, and I'm also a member of a Mountain Rescue Team. I've seen some scary things when it comes to climbing, and have studied the ins and outs of the industry. Hiring a guide certified by the AMGA will give you the best experience possible. I'm not trying to say, hey, hire these guys. I know a bunch of them and they're really cool. While that is all true, I would trust these guys with my life any day, any time, on any rock, in any weather element.

Here is a link to AMGA Guide Karsten Delap. I've known him, climbed with him, and guided with him for 7 years now. I highly encourage you to check out his site and see what kind of experience and credentials he, as well as other AMGA guides have. And, of course, feel free to give him a shout. He'd love to help out. Dude eats, breathes, and sleeps on rocks.

http://www.karstendelap.com/

break the group up into boys and girls just like in middle school. have the girls post here individually. that should do it.