The fall colours are in full splendour all along the Niagara Escarpment, cool mornings are providing optimal friction on the cliff, and weekdays have gotten noticeably quieter as folks settle into their regular work or school routines....perfect time to head out to the crag (with a sweater)!
Season Recap
On The Rocks had a busy, productive season in spite of several rainy Saturdays, and I was very happy to see so many familiar faces out climbing and learning new skills. A big thank you to all our wonderful climbers and guides!
We had a number of special clinics and events this year, with some very fun groups, and are hoping to bring these back again next year. Especially memorable were the Top-belay and Hauling, Crack Climbing, Falling, and Intro to Sport Climbing Days!
2025 Preview
Planning the next season is one of my favourite activities, and it's hard not to be overambitious coming up with new ideas for courses and locations, planning events and meet-ups. Needless to say, next year's calendar will be just as packed as this year, and hopefully our initial offerings will be posted some time in late November.
We will continue to add dates for 2025 through the winter, and look out for some new options coming up in the spring, along with more special weekends like the Rattlesnake Round-up! We have had a number of requests for opportunities to meet up and practice Sport Climbing or Trad Skills, so we'll try to squeeze several of those in among the popular Top-rope Meet-ups.
Last Chance for 2024 Prices
Over the last several seasons our costs have increased, and I have reluctantly decided to make a slight adjustment to our prices. However, On The Rocks will continue to offer great value for some of the best climbing courses available, and our scheduled courses and meet-ups allow groups of 1-2 climbers save money by joining a (small) group.
Forward-thinking climbers will have one more chance to book a course at 2024 prices this holiday season. Book and pay for your 2025 climbing course by December 31 to lock in 2024 prices (dates, etc. can still be adjusted later). Price changes will come into effect on January 1st, 2025.
PCGI Guide Courses
On The Rocks is proud to be offering Professional Climbing Guides Institute Guide Certification Courses, Assessments, and recertification, and I really enjoyed working with all the enthusiastic guides and guide candidates this year. PCGI is a great organization dedicated to training and supporting quality climbing guides, and I am happy to represent them as a certified guide and mentor. I am committed to continuing to offer this service and support our local PCGI guide community in the future. Look out for new course dates next year, and please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Call for Climbing Guides
On the same note, I am always on the lookout for the next group of dedicated climbing guides, especially over the winter, when I'm cooking up new ideas for the coming year, and also planning spring courses and training. If you, or a climber you know is considering a career (or side-hustle!) as a climbing guide, please get in touch to find out if On The Rocks might be a good fit!
Access
As some of us start to think about ice climbing, travelling to warmer climbing areas, or heading indoors, this is a good time to remember how fortunate we are to have access to local crags, and to live in an area that has the natural areas and resources to enjoy this super-exciting activity. We are very lucky, and need to cherish and preserve both our crags and our access to climbing.
On the other hand, access could definitely be much, much better in Southern Ontario, and it's important that we keep up the good work building relationships with land managers and advocating for change. Join the Ontario Alliance of Climbers, and get involved with this important organization.
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to contact us at info@ontherocksclimbing.com with any questions. I hope to see you at the cliff!
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