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 58 reviews Posted on Ethan F31 March 2026Trustindex 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 Tim Blair30 March 2026Trustindex 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 Phoenix Morrow30 March 2026Trustindex 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 Melisa Hickman19 March 2026Trustindex 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.Posted on Roseville MTB Dad13 March 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I really can't recommend Vertical Pursuits, and Kevin Heinrich in particular as my guide, strongly enough. I'm in my mid-50s, very new to climbing and until quite recently never gave the prospect of entering the vertical world a moment's thought. Not wild about heights, highly risk-averse, etc. I stumbled into it by accident, with my 19-year-old son along for the ride. We found VP via local search and hooked up w/ Kevin for some prelims at Auburn Quarry, School Rock (Donner) and Cosumnes River Gorge. I got my first taste of multipitch at School Rock and was hooked. On relatively short notice, Kevin challenged me to a massive 2-day epic at Red Rock Canyon NV. Without thinking too much about it, I decided to give it a shot not really knowing what I was getting myself into. Day 1 he led me up 5.6 Geronimo in six pitches and we rappelled down (also six pitches) - huge, epic, wildly fun. Day 2 we just went harder and bigger, tackling 5.7 Group Therapy/Tunnel Vision in six pitches with a balls-out walk/scramble off that was almost as hard (and scary) as the climb! Kevin got me up and down safely both days and I had the time of my life. We had a lot of laughs, an epic adventure, and a profoundly positive, life-changing experience for me. Kevin is also a great teacher, coach, and mentor. And an authentic human being (even if he is a vegan!). Engaging, patient, and a good sense of humor. Very good at holding you accountable without being nitpicky or pedantic about it, utterly meticulous with safety procedures but knows when to let things slide a little and when to hold firm with the coaching/corrections. Patience is such a virtue, especially for a guide - working with someone who has vastly inferior skills and knowledge (me), never once did he exhibit the slightest frustration or impatience even at times when it must have been hard not to - particularly during the Tunnel Vision walk-off when I was far slower and more unsure of myself than he. Last but certainly not least - the real deal when it comes to climbing. Exceptionally skilled. I never had a doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing and that I was never at undue risk. It gave me the confidence I needed to keep pushing and do something I never thought I could do. You can't put a price on that. Thanks Kevin - look forward to many more adventures!Posted on Gil Takemori17 February 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fun, educational, nicely curated climbing in one of the premier destinations anywhere. Kevin and Erik are careful guides that ensure that amazing balance of memorable yet comfortable climbs while imparting their decades of experience along the way. You might be able to learn multi pitch techniques from your buddies, but getting trained by these AMGA Certified Guides will make your climbing a whole lot safer and more efficient!Posted on Rebecca Allyn16 February 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I came out from the East Coast not sure what to expect, but knowing I wanted to become a more independent climber and have some fun while my family and friends were stuck in a deep freeze back home. This experience exceeded any expectation I could have had. Kevin is at heart a teacher in addition to being a total adventurer. He's super focused on developing his climbers' competencies versus just hauling them up the mountain. We had the best time I've ever had outdoors - a fabulous mix of long, epic multipitch climbs and shorter routes where we could lead and put all that learning into action. The ground school sessions were invaluable for building real skills. If you're looking to level up your climbing abilities while having an incredible outdoor adventure, I can't recommend this highly enough. Kevin's approach makes you a better, more confident climber - not just someone who got to the top of a mountain.Posted on Jessica Rose4 February 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Went on a rock climbing and yoga retreat in EPC with Erik and it was INCREDIBLE. Great instruction, great climbs, great vibes. I was one of the relatively newer-to-outdoor-climbing folks on the trip, and Erik was both patient and thorough in answering any and all of my questions. He helped build my confidence with lead climbing and lead belaying and I always felt super supported. Can't wait to play rocks with Erik again!Posted on Michael Westbrook2 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Took the SPI course and exam with Kevin. We learned all of the required AMGA stuff and also got a lot of practical insights into the business.Posted on J. C.8 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Vertical Pursuits is THE BEST rock climbing guiding service I’ve ever experienced. Erik has been our guide for years and he is reliable, prepared, knowledgeable, ready-for-anything, positive and downright fun. I always feel safe, supported, yet gently challenged with Erik. I always have the best time with Vertical Pursuits. If you’re looking to bridge into outdoor rock climbing or even up your climbing game, then Vertical Pursuits is the choice for you!! I Highly recommend!