Camp and Climb Weekend

Rad areas, new skills, new partners. A weekend done right.

Escape the everyday and immerse yourself in a weekend of rock climbing, skill development, and genuine outdoor community. Whether you’re looking to push your grades, learn new skills, or simply enjoy quality time on and off the rock with new friends, our Camp & Climb Weekend offers the perfect blend of climbing and camaraderie.

Explore amazing climbing areas with expert guides, share stories around the campfire, and return home with new skills, confidence, and partners. Heck yeah!

All skill levels welcome.

Weekend specifics depend on location; see details below.

Calaveras Dome

Awesome freeclimbing alongside the haul bag on Wall of the Worlds.

High on Sands of Time

Calaveras Dome | Sept. 2025

Cal Dome is the raddest multipitch trad venue you’ve never heard of! Join us for a weekend camped along the gorgeous Mokelumne River, climbing the classic multipitch routes of Calaveras and Hammer Domes.

Classic Routes:

Wings and Stings (5.7, 3 pitches), Hammer Dome
Gemini Cracks (5.8, 3 pitches), Hammer Dome
Sands of Time (5.9, 6 pitches), Calaveras Dome
Wall of the Worlds (5.10c, 5 pitches), Calaveras Dome

Itinerary

Day 0: Arrive at Cal Dome
Arrive in the Cal Dome area and join us at the campsite in the evening for drinks and good hangs. Be sure to do any shopping well before heading up into the mountains. There are no amenities in the area!

Day 1: Multipitch Climb!
We’ll hop right to it and climb an area classic! Start time will depend on the objective. After climbing have a refreshing dip in the river before hanging back at camp for a big group dinner!

Day 2: Multipitch!
Of course, we are climbing another classic multipitch! Folks with a long drive may opt for a shorter route or a morning climb. Those who want to spend another night are more than welcome!

Bonus Day(s)!
Stick around for an extra day or two and do some private guided climbing, mentorship, or instruction. Shoot, maybe spend the night on the dome big wall style! These days would involve additional cost and planning, so reach out for details.

Curriculum

The Cal Dome weekend is more climbing than instruction but you will still get coaching on some of these concepts. More advanced climbers will have the opportunity to lead at our discretion. Our small group size allows for a lot of personal attention!

Multipitch systems
Multipitch climbing efficiency
Multipitch rappelling skills
Tagline (Double rope) rappels

What's Included

Camping
Dinner and Breakfast
Tents (if requested)
Stove and cooking equipment
Food refrigeration
Climbing gear
AMGA Certified Rock Guide

What to Bring

Personal Climbing Gear (let us know if you need anything!)
- Helmet, harness, shoes
- Belay device (GriGri)
- Rappel device (ATC)
Lunch food
Camping Gear
- Sleeping bag + pad
- Headlamp
- Toiletries
- Clothing
Climbing pack
Sun hoody, hat, glasses
Warm layer
Water bottle

Accomodations

We will be providing camping at the Mokelumne River or White Azalea Campgrounds, which host pit toilets and picnic tables. These are a short drive from our climbing areas. There is no cell service.

Quick Details

Or call/text us at (916) 299-0711

stoked

Climbers!

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 64 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Misty Lawrence 
 5 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had taken an intro to trad clinic through another company fairly recently, so I was apprehensive about taking another intro to trad course, but I was still hesitant to lead trad after the first course and a friend recommended Erik so I decided to go for it. I’m super stoked I did! The class was small, only 3 of us, so the course felt very tailor fit to our needs. Erik has a fantastic positive vibe, he’s incredibly supportive, and his instruction was very clear and easy to understand. After a bit of informative ground school much of the course was spent on the wall learning gear placement with his close guidance. By the end of the course all 3 of us led 5.6 and 5.7 routes. I have so much more confidence leading trad now, I highly recommend Vertical Pursuits!!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   oliver symonds 
 2 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We scheduled an intro to trad course to learn the basics and get familiar with the techniques. Even before the day of the course, Kevin and Erik were super helpful with recommendations and ensuring the day would be dialed in for us. On the day of the course, Erik was an excellent guide covering the basics and quickly getting us on the wall. My son was excitedly putting up trad leads well before the end of the day. It was great having a high level of instruction and mentorship, while feeling less like a guide and more like a coach. We'll be back for sure.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Harvey Clarke 
 20 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Erik is a fantastic guide - he made trad climbing and multipitch super accessible for a full group of 4 climbers at once. Highly recommend these guys!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Shari VanT 
 14 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the best, safest, and most fun guides I have climbed with! Highly recommend Vertical Pursuit’s!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Michael Silvester 
 25 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Erik is an outstanding teacher, guide, and all around great guy! I spent the day with him and one other student at School Rock on Donner Summit taking the Intro to Multipitch course and it was stellar! He has a great teaching style—knowledgeable, patient, and easy to learn from. He broke down complex systems into simple, understandable steps and made sure we felt comfortable asking questions along the way. What really stood out was how invested he was in helping us learn and build confidence. His experience and expertise were obvious, but he never made anything feel intimidating. By the end of the day, I felt much more confident with multi-pitch climbing systems and techniques. If you’re looking for a guide who is professional, approachable, has done laps on El Cap (including The Nose!) and genuinely passionate about teaching, I highly recommend Erik and Vertical Pursuits.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Olivia Simon 
 10 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a fantastic experience learning from Kevin at the Intro to Sport Climbing class. He is an amazing teacher - super kind and never made me feel dumb for asking really basic questions. The format of the class is awesome. You get time on the ground to learn skills and then get to apply them on the wall. Everything feels super safe and thoughtful. I learned a ton and think it's an insane value for the price. It's a whole day of instruction with no more than 4 people in the course, but my course only had 2 so that meant even more time on the wall and extra mentoring. Also, the communication with the Vertical Pursuits team was top notch. Kevin was kind enough to chat with me on the phone before I took the class to answer my questions and make sure the class would be a good fit. He was great about communicating location and timing the day of. And, he followed up after class with an email of everything we talked about + videos and resources for review. If you're on the fence, take the course! It's a great opportunity to learn from real pros and up your knowledge safely!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ethan F 
 31 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kevin brought me and a buddy out to sport climb for the first time, and it was a great time. He's a great mentor who's friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer all your stupid questions. He went above and beyond to be helpful, and offered resources even after our day of climbing. Highly recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Tim Blair 
 30 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kevin was an awesome teacher and guide. Classes feel more personal because of the limited number of people. We took the trad class, learned how to place gear effectively, then put it to the test the same day. I felt incredibly safe and confident in my and Kevin’s abilities. Thank you for a great climbing day!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Phoenix Morrow 
 30 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Awesome time learning the basics of Trad climbing with Kevin. The small group helped me and my partner feel like we were able to ask all the questions we needed, and we were able to receive constructive feedback. The guides are very knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Melisa Hickman 
 19 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Vertical Pursuits is AWESOME!! I had a trad lesson with Kevin at Sugarloaf.  Kevin was extremely safe, thorough, and encouraging.  We had just the right balance of ground school and climbing.  Before my day with Kevin I was afraid to try anything harder than a 5.7 crack and he helped me to bust right through that fear with his calm, reassuring guidance.  I had the best day with him and I feel totally ready to push through my plateau.