EPC Multipitch Mentorship Camp

From MP basics to advanced rescue — personalized coaching for every level.

From single pitch cragging up to 2,300 foot SPORT ROUTES. Margaritas or Topo Chico as soon as you hit the ground, walking to and from accommodations and dining, plus an international climbing community with easy travel logistics. What’s not to love?

Looking for our All-Inclusive Yoga and Climbing Retreat? Click Here.

Our El Potrero Chico Multipitch Mentorship Camp is just that, an opportunity for you to build confidence and gain independence in basic or advanced multipitch skills. If you are new to multipitch climbing, you’ll learn core systems on classic climbs before taking the lead yourself (if you want). Those with more experience will be sharing leads with our expert mentors immediately and will receive coaching that goes beyond the basics: self-rescue, efficiency, and advanced tactics.

Due to the insanely small group size, this is a very customizable trip. If you want to lean more toward guided ascents of challenging multipitches, we can do that. Want to focus more on skills progression and gaining confident independence for yourself? We can do that too. In fact, if you sign up with one other person, you will have a private guide to yourself, and we’ll design the PERFECT 4-day trip for you.

Along with the incredible climbing experiences, we’ll be enjoying the delicious food, meeting new people, and experiencing a BEAUTIFUL location with splitter weather in the middle of the winter doldrums.

Come join us!

Beautiful views.

Clients leading multipitch!

Friends in high places.

Gorgeous landscape

I can see my house from here!

Itinerary

Day 0: Arrive at your accommodations in Hidalgo (see Logistics tab below)

Day 1-4: Go Multipitch Climbing! The flow of these days will depend on what YOU want to do. But here is a possible taste:

We’ll meet up in the morning for coffee/breakfast before walking a short way into the canyon to our climbing objective. We’ll climb one or two 3-10 pitch sport climbs, chasing sun or shade depending on conditions. Every route in EPC requires rappelling, which will get us TONS of expert practice at one of the most dangerous parts of multipitch climbing. We might finish the day with a bit of ground school, dialling in a concept we explored on the wall. When energy fades, we’ll grab some food and libations, enjoy the company of other climbers, and make a plan for another incredible day.

We will usually have full or half days of instructional content without getting up on multipitches, but that is totally up to you. If you have never led on a multipitch before but want to, expect at least a half day of instruction. If you want to be an absolute self-rescue ninja, expect a full day of instruction. Again, we are super flexible and want to get you what you need to make your next trip to EPC an independent one.

Final Day and Beyond: Plan to leave later on our last day or the next morning. Or stick around for some bonus days of private instruction/guiding with us, or put your new skills to the test on your own! You will have barely gotten a taste of this place, even with 4 full climbing days!

Logistics

Travel:

El Potrero Chico is a super easy place to travel to and play! Fly into Monterrey International Airport (MTY) and take an Uber or pre-arranged “climber taxi” (we can help!) directly to your accommodations in Hidalgo.

No need for a rental car, you’ll be walking distance to all the climbing and restaurants!

Consider Ubering to a grocery store (this HEB is well stocked) before continuing to your accommodations. Pre-arranged climber taxis will generally take you to the store and wait for you to shop as standard.

We’d recommend arriving in Hidalgo the day before the start of our climbing to maximize our time!

Getting home is much the same; you’ll arrange for a climber taxi back to the airport. (Uber doesn’t work going back.)

Accommodations:

There are TONS of options for accommodations. We recommend La Posada, El Cubil, or Rancho Sendero, though there are many other options! Each of these will have options from budget camping to glamping to private apartments; it’s up to you. These all have communal kitchens and are walking distance to the climbing. We do not recommend booking in Hidalgo proper as you will need a car to reasonably get to the climbing area each day.

Food:

There are many great restaurants all around (and in) the accommodations. There are gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian options too!

All the accommodations also have communal kitchens, so you can cook whatever you like! We find most folks will do their own breakfasts and snack/lunch foods and then eat out with the gang for dinner.

We’d recommend bringing any special/niche food items from home. Definitely stop at the grocery store on your way in to grab lunch foods for on the walls!

This website is a great resource for more logistics and information!

2 to 1 Ratio | The VP Difference

Other programs have no participation limits and try to sell as many spots as possible. Inevitably, the participants get stuck top-roping at a single-pitch crag, with maybe one day of multipitch climbing in their week-long stay. That’s not what EPC is all about.

At Vertical Pursuits, we are very clear about our ratios and participation limits so that you can climb a ton of awesome multipitch routes and get personalized semi-private instruction. You’ll leave with renewed confidence in yourself as an independent climber, and you’ll also probably need a rest day 🙂

Inclusions

Included:

4 full days of Multipitch Climbing
AMGA Certified Rock Guide or Assistant Rock Guide
Technical Gear and Ropes
Endless PSYCH!

Not Included:

Airfare
Lodging
Food
Local/Airport Transport
Travel Insurance (REQUIRED)

What to Bring

Climbing Gear:

Helmet
Harness
Climbing Shoes (perhaps a comfy multipitch pair and a sporty pair)
Small ~15L pack
Water Bottle
Gri-Gri or similar
ATC or similar (for rappelling)

Clothes:

Sun Glasses
Sun Shirt
Sun Hat
Thin Pants for climbing
Solid Shoes for the approach
Warm Layer for Wind
Rain Coat
“Town” Clothes

Travel:

Travel Documents
Toiletries and Medications
Mexican Pesos or International Debit Card

Prerequisites

If you are signing up alone please observe these prerequisites:

Climbing 5.10 in the gym
Fitness for full days on the cliff
No multipitch experience is required

Our 2-to-1 ratio means that if you sign up with a friend, you will have a private guide! You can come with any skill level and we will accommodate you.

Quick Details