Cliffhanger Guides - Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Adventures
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I spent four days of predominantly trad climbing with a remarkable Cliffhanger Guide, Roddy McCalley. First, Roddy evaluated my skill set. Recognizing that I had only been climbing for 3 years, he taught me the basics of "crack," "slab" and "chimney" climbing. Having an encyclopedic knowledge of the climbing in Joshua Tree, Roddy thoughtfully selected as many of the single and classic multi-pitch routes as we could fit into full days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday..... a total of 32 pitches! The climbing experience presented me with new challenges, built my confidence, and expanded my range of techniques. It was an exhilarating experience. Cliffhanger Guides prepared a wonderful lunch every day. Roddy, a Yale graduate in environmental studies, proved to be a font of engrossing details the about the flora and fauna of the magnificent desert and the geological origins of the area. He shared fascinating lore about how Joshua Tree served as one of the most important staging areas for the earliest climbers. This was the setting where their craft was honed before tackling the epic big walls of Yosemite. If Cliffhanger Guides had only connected me with Roddy, the week would have been perfect but I felt especially welcome into the culture of climbing that Seth and Sabra Zaharias have created. A culture that stirs a joy of climbing that is grounded in safety; a culture that strives for the perfect fit of climber and guide. On my day of rest, Seth not only suggested a place for me to visit but also got into his car and guided me though the park to my point of departure for seeing the legendary Samuelson's Rocks. If you love climbing, Joshua Tree is an exceptional destination..... and Cliffhanger Guides has the most exceptional resources to make your visit a success.... as they did for me.
Albert Einstein
00
Our 16 year old son has been bouldering indoors 2-4/ week for about a year. I have no experience bouldering and only have done auto belay indoor climbing a few times. Visiting from very flat Minnesota, we wanted to have a guided experience for what to do in JTree. So glad I found Cliffhangers! Avery helped and advised us about various options on a couple phone calls. We had everything set up a couple weeks before our trip. Sabra greeted us the morning of our climb and introduced us to Jessy. They were so positive that we would have a great time, and they were right. They listened to what we were hoping to do and planned the day accordingly. They suggested changes that made a lot of sense. That’s why I like guides …. for guidance! We did traditional top rope climbing the first 4 hours, ate a delicious lunch, then bouldered for the afternoon. I have a pretty serious fear of heights and Jessy got me comfortable going up about 30 feet. Of course our son went to the top everything he set up (70 feet?) The key was that he did a great job explaining how safe it is, mental exercises/ breathing relaxing and trusting the equipment and him. He got me up there, and down. Aside from the ingrained primitive fear humans have of heights, I was actually truly comfortable and glad I did it. It was liberating and a great accomplishment. There is a lot of skill in guiding a safe, rewarding climb. There is an art to making people comfortable with it. In addition to all of that, Jessy was a wealth of knowledge on the environment of the park. As we went through the day there were impromptu lessons on geology, botany, the ecosystem and evolutionary history of Joshua Tree. That was super interesting. Plus the Cliffhanger website led me to locally owned AirBnbs, and that was great too. 6/5 stars!
Leo Arms
00
I booked my outing two days before hand and right away the communication was quick and concise with Avery matching me to the experience I was looking for with an attention for details (my experience, equipment, and lunch preferences). I arrived at Cliffhangers with nerves being a total mess on what would be a first time climbing outdoors. My guide, Jessy, was every bit of a climber you'd expect and as I got to talking to him on the wall, a genuinely awesome human. While the nerves never disappeared entirely, he made sure the experience was safe, offered advice, and made sure the climbing experience would be a memorable one in the best way imaginable. As an indoor climber with a few years on plastic walls, our climb up Lost Horse satisfied my curiosity for what granite felt like, and the rewards of getting up a multi pitch wall were visually and spiritually satisfying. The switch has been irreversibly switched, and I'll be outside again soon, further growing this amazing sport of climbing. Enough waxing nostalgia on the experience, if you've read this novel this far, it's wholly from the heart and I hope you get the same experience. From the perspective of someone who has to keep a fear of heights in check, if you're a first time climber, my review comes from respecting the outdoor climbing experience. If I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep and had to reassure myself a dozen times on the drive in that this was more of an incredible opportunity than a daunting day of white knuckling rock, it might not have been the same kinda day. Jessy and the guides can't make you superhuman, so arrive with a body and mind open to an experience and they'll do everything in their power to create that framework for you.
Brett Verbick
00
I booked a half day of climbing with Cliffhanger Guides for my 15 year old daughter. It was a great experience from beginning to end. First, the company was very responsive to my questions via email prior to booking. They confirmed that I could accompany my daughter and her guide on the climbing trip, which was cool because I got to enjoy watching her climb and I took a bunch of pictures and videos. Two days before the date of our reservation, Angela called to see if we could reschedule due to weather. She was very nice and accommodating. We moved the trip one day earlier and avoided the incoming storm. The weather was beautiful on the day of our trip: clear blue skies and temps in the 70s (last week in April). Our guide Skyeler was top-notch. I have done a some climbing in the past, and search/rescue rope work when I worked as a firefighter. I was impressed with Skyeler's attention to safety measures. He also was an excellent instructor, guide and motivator for my teenage daughter. Skyeler knew just the right way to encourage her to push herself while still keeping it light and fun. I think my daughter summed it up best when she posted a pic to her instagram of her completing a 100' rappel. Along with the pic, she posted a quote from a Zach Bryan song: "I have ridden the fear although I was afraid every single time." I give this company, its staff, and guides my highest recommendation.
Jonathan Barnes
00
Our tour guide Greg did an amazing job educating us about the park and facilitating a very fun, challenging, and rewarding experience. Learning about the science/history of Joshua Tree from Greg definitely made me appreciate it more. I had never climbed outside before and am a bit scared of heights, so definitely felt the nerves on my first climb. Greg showed us various techniques for climbing which helped me get the hang of things better and feel more confident in myself. I was a bit tired going into my last (and hardest) climb, but Greg's relaxed demeanor and encouragement helped me to calm myself and push through! He explained all of the safety procedures very thoroughly and ensured we understood the process before proceeding. I had a very yummy and filling vegan lunch as well - an arrangement of crackers, hummus/dips, pickles, veggies, and some vegan cookie biscuits for desert all from Trader Joes my favorite grocery store :-) Would definitely recommend Cliffhanger guides to anyone wanting to challenge themselves whilst admiring Joshua Tree in a completely different way. and Greg took some epic shots of us on the way up to remember it all :D
serena kang
00
My husband and I booked a full day climbing tour, and it was worth every penny. From the initial booking and interactions with Avery, to the climbing itself, we can't recommend this company enough. Our guide, Andy, was professional, safety-oriented, extremely knowledgeable and fun! As experienced gym climbers, we wanted to gain more experience with outdoor climbing. Andy took us on a few lead-and-follow top rope routes, and we did our first rappels and multi-pitch ascent! Every step of the way, he explained the why's and how's of everything so that we felt safe. In addition to learning so much about trad climbing, we also learned a lot about the local ecosystem of JT, and got to take in AMAZING views of the park. Their packed lunch was also fantastic and they will cater to any food restrictions. If you've had prior climbing experience and you're debating whether to book the half day or full day, book the FULL DAY! Since it takes a while to set up, climb the routes, and take in the amazing scenery, you'll only end up climbing a handful of routes and be left wanting more once lunch rolls around. We are so happy we booked a full day.
Sabina Wong
00
Nearby Attractions Of Cliffhanger Guides - Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Adventures
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
The Station Joshua Tree
Stone Adventures
Joshua Tree Certified Farmers' Market
Dollar General
World Famous Crochet Museum
AutoCamp Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree RV & Campground
Joshua Tree Rock Shop
SAFARI MOTOR INN - JOSHUA TREE
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
4.7
(2.4K)
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The Station Joshua Tree
4.6
(177)
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Stone Adventures
5.0
(140)
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Joshua Tree Certified Farmers' Market
4.6
(177)
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Nearby Restaurants Of Cliffhanger Guides - Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Adventures
Joshua Tree Saloon
JT Country Kitchen
Joshua Tree Coffee Company
Sam's Indian Food & Pizza
Crossroads Cafe
Sky High Pie
Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant
The DEZ fine food - takeaway - espresso
Castañeda's Mexican Food
Roadrunner Grab+Go
Joshua Tree Saloon
4.2
(1.9K)
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JT Country Kitchen
4.5
(610)
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Joshua Tree Coffee Company
4.2
(609)
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Sam's Indian Food & Pizza
4.1
(570)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
6551 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Map
Phone
(760) 401-5033
Call
Website
cliffhangerguides.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
5
(259 reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
adventure
scenic
family friendly
off the beaten path
attractions: Joshua Tree Visitor Center, The Station Joshua Tree, Stone Adventures, Joshua Tree Certified Farmers' Market, Dollar General, World Famous Crochet Museum, AutoCamp Joshua Tree, Joshua Tree RV & Campground, Joshua Tree Rock Shop, SAFARI MOTOR INN - JOSHUA TREE, restaurants: Joshua Tree Saloon, JT Country Kitchen, Joshua Tree Coffee Company, Sam's Indian Food & Pizza, Crossroads Cafe, Sky High Pie, Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant, The DEZ fine food - takeaway - espresso, Castañeda's Mexican Food, Roadrunner Grab+Go
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