F-Rock 2021

I came to F-Rock having done only a minscule amount of top roping, and I didn’t even know that lead climbing existed (I thought there was only top roping or free soloing). I was met with an amazingly supportive community of 9 likeminded peers, where we were thrown straight into the fire on a 8 day backpacking trip in the Sawatch Mountains. While the hiking and the heavy packs challenged us all, I felt very well equipped by the Instructional team, between learning how to pack my pack, plan our meals, and stormproof our stuff. After the backpacking, we embarked on a tour of some of the most iconic and world class climbing areas in North America. Limestone sport climbing in Rifle, huge walls of sandstone and crack climbing in Indian Creek, Mixed climbing around Moab, a trip south to the Cochise stronghold to learn how to multi pitch, and then a mostly student led expedition to St. George Utah. I went from knowing nearly nothing about climbing to understanding how to safely climb in many different situations, how to read guidebooks and use the internet to find climbs, and how to evaluate fixed protection to keep yourself safe. By the end of the program I had become confident leading sport climbs, multipitching, and even leading trad climbs. There was excellent mentor shop from both the more experienced students and the instructional team. I feel like this program has equipped me so well to continue climbing in my personal life, and has helped me learn other life skills, like how to shop on a budget, coexist with different people, and lead my peers effectively. I cannot give it enough praise, if you have any interest in climbing and/or seeing the American Southwest do yourself a favor and choose this program.