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Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: I can lead 5.12 in the gym, I know how to clip in and belay with a GriGri.  I've heard you guys are a really cool bunch and I'd love to start climbing outdoors the AMC.  Can I join as a walk on leader?
• A: While flattery is certainly useful, it won't help here.  We want leaders to have a great deal of outdoor, multipitch experience.  You have none.  You'd be best served by taking the Training Class in the spring.

• Q: I love rappelling in an extreme way.  Can I join your club?
• A: No.  Join the Army instead.

• Q: My friend and I started top roping in the Gunks a few months ago and we've hired a guide for a day to teach us all the skills you teach in the Training Class.  Can we come on as walk on seconds, rather than leaders?  We'd both like to start leading soon.
• A: Unfortunately, our club isn't very big and we don't have enough leaders to accommodate all the seconds we currently have, therefore we're only accepting walk on leaders.  Climbers without multipitch experience require a fair amount of instruction and supervision; more so than we can provide.  We take about 20 or so students every spring in our Training Class and that, along with seconds from previous years, strains our resources.  That's why we want leaders with extensive, recent multipitch experience.

• Q: I've been leading sport and trad multipitch routes out west for the past 2 years and I've just move to the NYC area.  I'm not really comfortable leading in the Gunks just yet.  Can I come on as a walk on second instead of a leader?
• A: No, but one of the great things about the Gunks is the quantity of quality beginner routes.  Pick up a guidebook and checkout some of the stared 5.2's, 3, and 4's and get back to us.

• Q: I've been doing multipitch in the Gunks with my High School Climbing Club for the past 2 semesters and I'd like to do more with your club.  I don't yet lead, but I'd like to learn.  Can I come on as a walk on second and then learn to lead?
• A: No.  For a variety of reasons we can't allow minors in the club.

• Q: I've been toproping in the Gunks for the past 2 years and I've been leading sport at Westpoint, Rumney and El Potrero Chico for the past year.  I have no intention of taking any classes nor do I plan to lead trad.  Can I join as a second instead of as a leader?
• A: We currently don't have the resources for more seconds.  Unfortunately, unless you start leading trad, you're out of luck as far as we're concerned.

• Q: Thirty years ago I did some climbing with John Bachar and Jim Bridwell out in The Valley.  I haven't been near a cliff since then, but I'm sure I remember everything.  At the time I was able to lead a few 6's, although I think the grades where harder back then.  I don't want to take your class.  Hell, I could probably teach that class of yours!  Did I also mention that I climbed with Richie Romano?
• A: Thirty years is a long time and it sounds like you were a client of these guys, not an equal partner.  A refresher class won't hurt. Other students will benefit from your breadth and depth of experience and you'll meet a lot of your future partners.

• Q: I've been climbing in the gym a lot recently and I've hired guides 4 or 5 times this spring.  Every time we did multipitch routes and all the guides said I'm a very good climber.  The hardest pitch I did was 5.7 and I've done one mock lead on TR.  I'm certain I know all the skills.  Can I join as a walk on leader?
• A: No.  You've only done 4 or 5 days of multipitch and it's all been with guides.  Guides generally do all the work and are experts at taking care of their clients.  We're not guides and don't want to function as guides.  We want the members of our club to be equal partners in the climbing experience.  Because guides are so good at what they do clients tend to get an inflated perspective of their own abilities.  In addition, mock leading isn't even close to the real thing.  Your best bet is to take our Training Class next Spring.

• Q: I missed the spring Training Class.  Why don't you guys teach the class more often?
• A: The class involves a tremendous amount of volunteer time over the course of 2 weekends.  We also don't have the resources to deal with 20 more seconds later in the season.  And, of course, we'd rather be climbing.

• Q: I'm extremely attractive, but have absolutely no climbing experience.  Can I join your club?
• A: Oh my, yes.  Someone will be in touch!