Guided Big Wall
quick details
- 1-2 People
- Overnight, 2-3 Days
- Difficult to Extreme
- Prior Climbing Experience Required
- Varied Pricing
Or call/text us at (916) 299-0711
Spend the night on the side of a cliff!
Imagine greeting the sunrise from a cliffside perch, coffee in hand, as dawn light fills the sky and stretches across the landscape below.
Our Guided Big Wall adventures are available at iconic locations like Calaveras Dome, with options on routes like Sands of Time and Wall of the Worlds. We also guide overnight trips on Utah’s famed formations, including the Finger of Fate on the Titan, Castleton Tower, and more. Each journey is uniquely crafted to match the experience you’re looking for. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to learn Big Wall climbing techniques like aid climbing and rope ascension, or simply enjoy a night on the wall with fun, free climbing up to 5.9.
Ready to have your mind blown? Reach out, and together we’ll design a Guided Big Wall that’s as unique as you are.
Calaveras Dome
Calaveras Dome is a hidden gem in the Sierra backcountry, offering climbers an unforgettable experience on nearly 2,000 feet of perfect granite. The area boasts striking splitter cracks, smooth slabs with ample knobs, and dikes that stretch for hundreds of feet. Despite its grandeur, Calaveras Dome remains off the beaten path, with secluded camping nearby, providing a serene escape reminiscent of Yosemite in the 1960s.
Overnight Routes:
- Sands of Time (5.9), Calaveras Dome
- Wall of the Worlds (5.10c), Calaveras Dome
Sample Itinerary:
Day 0: Arrive in the evening, meet your guide and prepare/pack equipment for the climb.
Day 1: Hike up to the dome with all your gear and climb a handful of pitches up to your home for the night, a comfortable ledge hundreds of feet off the ground. You’ll arrive at the ledge with plenty of time to enjoy your evening meal and watch the sun go down.
Day 2: Depending on what type of experience you’ve planned with us you may continue climbing to the top of the dome or begin your descent after a nice morning watching the swifts dance and dive through the air while sipping a cup of coffee. You’ll make a series of rappels to the ground and hike back to the cars feeling full of life!
Moab, Utah
Moab, Utah is a climber’s playground, surrounded by a landscape like no other—towering sandstone cliffs, sheer walls, and iconic desert towers that have captivated climbers for decades. The area’s red rock walls and sweeping desert views create an unforgettable backdrop, especially at sunrise and sunset when the cliffs blaze with color.
Overnight Ascent Routes:
- The Finger of Fate, The Titan (5.8, C2+, 900ft)
- North Chimney, Castelton Tower (5.9+, 500ft)
- Pillar of Insanity, Long Canyon (C1, 400ft)
Sample Itinerary:
The Titan
Day 1 | Prep Day: Climbing the Titan is no small feat and requires aid climbing skills such as rope ascension. You will spend a day learning these skills and packing your equipment for your ascent.
Day 2: You will hike your equipment into the tower and climb a handful of pitches to your bivy site for the night, a precarious perch in a Martian landscape. You will sleep in a portaledge after a long day.
Day 3: You will finish your ascent of the tower with a few more pitches of climbing before rappelling back to your bivy equipment and continuing your descent and egress to the cars. These are some big days and you’ve earned that sense of accomplishment!
Castleton Tower
Day 1: You’ll meet your guide in the morning and prepare your equipment for the ascent before hiking up to the tower and climbing a high-quality, classic free-climb to the summit where you will spend the night.
Day 2: You’ll watch the sunrise and enjoy your morning in a magical place before rappelling down the sheer North Face and hiking down to the vehicles.
Pillar of Insanity
This route is often climbed when sharing leads as part of private big-wall training.
Day 1 | Skills Day: This will be a full day of skills training and preparation for your ascent beginning on Day 2. Depending on your goals you may learn to lead aid pitches so that you can do so on the wall.
Day 2: You’ll finish up any training from Day 1 and then head up the cliff aid climbing and ascending every pitch to the spacious bivy ledge where you will watch the desert go to sleep.
Day 3: You’ll climb the last pitch to the rim after enjoying your morning on the ledge and then begin your descent rappelling down the route you climbed. Your new skills will serve you well for you own big wall climbing adventures!
Other Locations
We can offer this style of outing at many of our other locations including at much smaller venues that require less experience and preparation to enjoy an overnight climb. These locations include; El Potrero Chico Mexico, Pine Creek Canyon, Donner Summit, and more!
Just contact us and we’ll be able to determine the best choice for what you are seeking!
Quick Detials
- 1-2 People
- Overnight, 2-3 Days
- Difficult to Extreme
- Prior Climbing Experience Required
- Varied Pricing
Or call/text us at (916) 299-0711
stoked
Climbers!
EXCELLENT Based on 22 reviews Elias Iristree24 October 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Man oh man, five stars is too low a score! 6/5 I took the Crack Clinic near Moab, and hot damn was it worthwhile. Expectations and hopes were sky high and they were absolutely exceeded. I learned a crap ton, saw incredible sights, and met a super varied and interesting group of folks. Kevin's teaching, knowledge, and stoke were a joy and a privilege to be around. I really couldn't recommend them more!! Fantastic experience A++ The only caveat to be mentioned is that an addiction to crack is no way discouraged. Take that as you will. Adrienne Levoy11 October 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I learned about Erik’s guiding services through the pipeworks gym community and hired him as a guide to take my mom and I on a mother-daughter multi pitch adventure at lovers leap for my mom‘s first multi pitch experience. It was a fantastic day of climbing, we had fun and felt very safe with Erik, as well as learning some new skills. In addition to providing safe belaying and videos and photos to commemorate our trip, Erik taught me some techniques for advancing my skills, gear placement techniques, and just generally provided a fun atmosphere for the day! My mom and I had a blast and I would recommend his services to anyone, beginner through advanced. He’s a very skilled guide and we felt safe in his hands. Brian Kaufman30 September 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently completed the two-day Intro to Big Wall course with Vertical Pursuits, and I couldn’t be more impressed. Our instructor, Kevin, went above and beyond by scouting out locations prior to the class to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. The setting was beautiful, and the course was exceptionally well planned and executed. Kevin taught the skills in a clear, understandable way while always prioritizing safety, which made me feel confident throughout the entire experience. If you're looking to learn big wall climbing, I highly recommend Vertical Pursuit. Moses Sedler24 September 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've attended a one-day intro to multi pitch course bed by Kevin. It was a very informative and enriching day of skill building that Kevin expertly led. Just recently Kevin guided myself and my 14 year old son on a full day single pitch sport climbing experience in the Bowman lake area. Kevin's presence, and knowledge combined for a really fun and rewarding day. I highly recommend Vertical Pursuits courses, and private guided experiences. Nicki H20 September 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had climbed with both Erik and Kevin on several sessions. They are knowledgeable, experienced and have a lot of enthusiasm. Safety of the climbers is their top priority. Even though I consider myself as somewhat of an experienced climber, I always learn new skills and invaluable lessons. I highly recommend them to anyone regardless of their levels to learn and improve climbing skills. Kristina McNaught4 September 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The trad climbing course was exactly what I was looking for! Kevin kept it to the essential information, answered our slew of questions, and allowed for ample time to climb. Together we analyzed our gear placements, we practiced falling on them, we built anchors. Best of all, he tailored the class to our needs, so we could spend time on the skills we wanted to practice most. Highly recommend. Zhinan C30 August 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I took the Intro to Sport Climbing course with Kevin and would highly recommend it! I found the clinic very helpful for navigating the gym to crag transition. Kevin is excellent both as an instructor and a climber. I received plenty of individual attention and had many opportunities to practice during the class. Kyle Humason12 July 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kevin is an excellent instructor and certainly a reliable guide. I was impressed by and thankful for his professionalism, candor, decision making, and tact during our three day course. I would tackle any vertical pursuit he offers! Qiaosi Chen3 July 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been climbing outside with Erik and Kevin many times. From Mexico, Jusha Tree, to Tahoe. I learned lot of my outdoor climbing through these experiences, and I am able to go out to climb more and harder on my own. It has been very fun, always learning, changlleing, always great adventures climbing with them. Also making a lot of friends along the on way. Hope to see you next time!! 😄 Adam Woffinden24 June 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a great seminar on multi-pitch climbing technique. Kevin did a great job walking through each step and sharing helpful hints once we got hand-on. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to up-level their skills