Canyoning, Rock Scrambling, Rappelling & Zip Lines:

The Catskill Mountains, Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, and Hudson Valley hold some of the most picturesque and stunning locations in the tri-state area.

Add to the fact that you can get to these places by using technical and non-technical systems and you have got yourself a ton of fun.

Canyoning:

Waterfall rappelling in New York's Catskill Mountains is a great way to explore a unique setting not seen by many people. Let Mountain Skills Climbing Guides show you the Catskill Mountains in a completely different light.  This dramatic day will transport you away from your everyday stresses with the constant sound of rushing water.  The day consists of  technical descents via rappelling, rope work, rock scrambling, down-climbing and hiking. Previous rappelling or climbing experience is suggested. Group size of 6 or more people needed.

Rock Scrambling:

Rock scrambling at the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a great way to escape crowds and explore the overlooked and interesting areas the Gunks has to offer.  Bonticou, Lost City and Minnewaska State Park Preserve hold non-technical, fun ways of moving over rocky terrain.  Let Mountain Skills Climbing Guides take you off the beaten paths to scenic locations.

Full day hiking and scrambling rates:

$185 for single

$90 per person for two people

$60 per person for three to six people

Half day hiking and scrambling rates:

$110 for single

$55 per person for two people

$40 per person for three to six people

Rappelling:

Rappelling is the controlled decent down a rope, climbers use this technique when a clifff or slope is to steep to decend without protection.  Rappelling is also a ton of fun and a great skill to learn during your day with us.  Rappelling can be taught as a single skill or it can also be incorporated into any day with Mountain Skills Climbing Guides.

Zip Lines & Tyrolean Traverses:

A zip line or Tyrolean traverse is one method of crossing through free space between two high points on a rope.  A zip line is in essence traveling down a Tyrolean traverse quickly with the assistance of gravity.  In rock climbing a Tyrolean traverse is most often used to return to the main part of a wall after climbing a detached pillar.  Mountain Skills Climbing Guides can incorporate these scenarios into group rock climbing activities to really enhance a full day at the Gunks.

Environmental Programs:                 Leave No Trace Trainers Course

Mountain Skills Climbing Guides is proud to have six Leave No Trace Trainers and two Master Trainer’s on staff.  Our commitment to education is reflected in our desire to learn and pass on the principles that help keep our natural environment as impact-free as possible.  Here at Mountain Skills Climbing Guides, we take hundreds of clients into natural areas every year. We are guests in the woods, on the cliffs and in the mountains.  Our obligation to the outdoors is to protect and preserve; our obligation to our clients and staff is to model and teach low-impact skills.

 Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. 

The Leave No Trace Principles are: Plan Ahead and Prepare | Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces | Dispose of Waste Properly | Leave What You Find |Minimize Campfire Impacts | Respect Wildlife | Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

On every day, weekend or international trip, you can expect us to model and teach these principles, and ask that you embrace them as well.

About the Courses

Trainer courses are designed for educators, guides, agency employees, and other outdoor professionals. Successful graduates of the Trainer Course gain the skills to teach Leave No Trace techniques and ethics to their clients, friends and family. Participants learn the concepts of Leave No Trace and prepare to teach Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings-schools, camps, parks, wilderness and front country areas. Workshop topics include the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace:

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