Had an unreal time, first with an intro group climb, then liked it so much I immediately followed with the 6h climb. i'm a decent indoor climber with very little outdoor experience, and Ryan picked a great set of pitches to keep me just at the edge of my comfort zone. A couple perfect days. Highly recommend.
Our guides Jeff (owner) and Ross were excellent. Taught us the basics of the gear, eqpt, tying the rope figure 8, and making sure we were secure and safe. Shared climbing tips and tricks. It was our family's first time and it was such a positive experience for the kids that they loved and enjoyed it inspite of cooler temp and the wind blowing keeping us cooler than what we wanted (floridians). They were great with the kids and were able to keep them interested, motivated and encouraged to keep going for the top or take a break and go for it again :) They made it fun!!! Now they want to climb wherever they can in florida ;) Thank you for taking such great care of our family and making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for all!
On our recent trip to South Dakota my wife and I decided we wanted to learn the basics of rock climbing. We found a great place in Custer called Sylvan Rocks and booked our event via the internet. We chose the 6 hour adventure in Custer State Park. On the web form, I also filled in what we wanted to learn and our expectations. The day of our climb we arrived at the shop and were immediately greeted by smiling staff members. Sylvan provides everything you need but we already had our climbing harnesses and shoes. We met our guide, Brandon. He inspected our harnesses, confirmed our expectations, and off we went to the park. If you do not have a pass for the park you will need to get one before entering. Check out the park earlier in the week and get your pass so you can get right to the climbing sites. My wife and I each grabbed a rope bag, our helmets and gear, then followed Brandon to the climbing sites. First thing you need to know, if you are going to learn to climb or climb with a guide, go with someone who is certified. Earlier in life I was a certified dive instructor. As with diving, climbing certifications are critical. All of the guides at Sylvan are certified. Enough said. Brandon was extremely professional. He took the time to listen to our desires and then implemented our requirements on the wall. We received instruction on the ground prior to beginning our first climb and then before we knew it, we had climbed a 40 and 60 foot pitch. After additional training and a snack break, we climbed a 155 foot pitch. More instruction and we were top roping together. I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed our time with Brandon. He is an incredible teacher. His background as the co-owner of the shop and his life and living on the wall is very heartwarming. Upon returning to the shop, we were again greeted by staff who ask us how our adventure went. One thing you need to know about the store, if you need anything for climbing, they have it in the shop. And not only for climbing, but other sports as well. Brandon had some extra time so we hung out on the front porch of the shop for a little while and had a few snacks before we left for the day. Totally fun, extremely professional, highly recommend, we will be back.
