Deer Crossing Summer Camp


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Rock Climbing

NEW for 2006: Tree Climbing

Tree climbing was offered as a new activity in 2006. The strong and tall Jeffrey Pines in our camp vicinity are perfect for this activity.

Using techniques similar to those used by Forest Service arborists, campers learn the skills for climbing big trees with ropes and ascending devices. This is a chance to hang out in the upper branches for lunch with a bird's eye view of the lake. Tree climbing is available in the fourth session.

Rock Climbing

Deer Crossing is surrounded by awesome climbing sites. Our climbing program includes small 15-foot beginner walls, 50–and 75-foot intermediate walls, and 100+ foot big wall climbing.

Beginners start with an introduction to climbing where they learn about equipment, how to tie basic knots, climbing etiquette and safety principles. Then students move to the beginner's wall to learn how to set protection, belaying commands, and climbing techniques. When climbers are ready, they graduate to the intermediate walls at Frogstone and Cypress.

Safety, safety, safety. All climbs at Deer Crossing are belayed by qualified instructors using Gri-gris, a mechanical belaying device noted for its reliability. Even when campers are taught to belay, there is an experienced instructor in the loop. Climbers are protected with a top rope climbing system. When climbers practice rappeling, they have a second rope attached to an instructor's belaying system for security. Every climb has three solid anchor points, in a multiple-redundancy system. All equipment is inspected before each climb. All climbing sites have been choreographed. This means they are analyzed for the best way to set protection, then diagrammed, sketched and photographed, followed by an OK from an experienced safety officer. New routes become available only after careful analysis.

Deer Crossing is a great place for both novice and experienced climbers. Advanced campers can learn belaying, leading, equipment inspection, Hollywood climbing, Tyrolean traverse, and vertical rescue skills for both personal and team use. Our goal is to train well-rounded safety conscious climbers.

This camp is awesome. They have some of the best rock climbing I have ever done.

Kevin Galanis, California

Bouldering

Choosing and perfecting physical moves is what bouldering is all about. Each rock is a climbable puzzle. Climbers stay within 3-6 feet of the ground, protected by a spotter, so equipment needs are minimal: a helmet, some chalk, and a good pair of shoes.

Bouldering is a separate sport from rock-climbing. It focuses on specific techniques rather than long climbs. We teach both sports. Campers can specialize in one or both.

Climbing Out-Trips

Advanced campers are eligible for climbing out-trips. These last from 1-3 days. On multiple day trips, a base camp is set up at the foot of one of the mountains at the north end of Loon Lake. We have mapped out a number of challenging routes. Top roping protection is set up by instructors. Instructors belay all campers to create an exciting and safe experience. Over the years, our instructors have commented on the exceptional climbing offered at Deer Crossing. This is high praise from instructors who have climbed extensively in the US, Nepal, France, Britain, Switzerland, India and other world class climbing locations.