the arizona climbing and adventure school has continually raised the standards for safety, technical expertise, environmental awareness and experiential education, Our instructors are some of the most respected individuals in the outdoor industry - they are trained professionals, whose enthusiasm is contagious. They are special people - self-reliant, skilled and experienced in adventure activities. They are program designers, teachers, safety managers and group facilitators. Throughout your course, you appreciate their understanding, friendship and compassion.

Each year, out of 100 plus applications, we select five experienced rock climbers, mountaineers, kayakers and backpackers to serve as assistant instructors. They become full instructors after one year of rigorous training, testing, and field work during which they learn the latest safety management procedures - curriculum, process, technical standards, interpersonal/educational methods, and low-impact backcountry techniques.

Our select staff are among the best in the Southwest.
They are former instructors or graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and/or Outward Bound School! Their years of climbing and teaching have made them unequalled in safety and experience. Climbing and wilderness adventures are more than our business, it's our way of life!



curriculum
ACAS's reputation for quality adventure education is built on a unique and rigorous curriculum that includes:
• hands-on learning
• increasingly difficult challenges
• real-life situations in unfamiliar settings that provide immediate feedback
• supportive and caring instructors
• small group setting
• exemplary safety standards



staff
Mark Brontsema, Director
Michelle Monette, assistant director
Jayci Ferrimani, climbing director
Jayson Ohman, climbing site manager
Mike Riley, climbing & LNT instructor
Colin Kubarych, climbing instructor
Zach Summit, climbing instructor
Alwyne Butler, yoga & climbing instructor
Amylee Thornhill, yoga & climbing instructor
Catie Armstrong, climbing instructor
Jonathan Reckling, climbing instructor
................and the rest of our great staff!



reservations
Advance reservations are necessary. Full payment (per student) must accompany your reservation (payment in advance is required within 7 to 14 days of course starting date (depending on course). We accept personal checks, money orders, Mastercard® and Visa® (for late reservations please call us asap).



coming from out of town? need a hotel room or want to campout under the glittering stars?
Great camping with beautiful views of the surrounding Sonoran Desert and a variety of facilities are available at McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Hotels and resorts from the five-star Four Seasons, the Boulders Resort, Marriott Desert Ridge and Fairmont Scottsdale Princess to the lesser expensive Carefree Conference Inn or Country Inns & Suites – all are within a stones throw (okay, maybe a little further) of the climbing area.



free trip consultation
Are you planning a trip to the Southwest but don't need a guide or take one of our courses, but could use more information on the area. Call or email us and we'll gladly give you insight, tips and travel information to rock climbing, backpacking and hiking in the Grand Canyon, Superstitions, Sedona, Mt. Lemmon, etc.

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the grand canyon state!
in Arizona, the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World exists among lush desert landscapes, crystal-clear waters and breathtaking mountain peaks. From small communities to one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Arizona offers travelers unique experiences packed with hospitality, adventure, and stunning sights.

arizona is purported to have more exposed rock than any other state in the US. We have granite, dacite, basalt, limestone, gneiss, monzonite, welded tuff, and a thousand other kinds of the hard stuff.

from the Grand Canyon, flagstaff and Paradise Forks in the north, to the crags of Granite Mountain, the Superstitions, and Queen Creek, and finally south to Mount Lemmon and Cochise Stronghold, we have it all! Cracks of all sizes, wide, thin, edges, pockets, jugs, sport, trad, bouldering, big walls, no approach, big hike...whatever you're psyched about! The one thing we're a little short on in most areas is crowds, but that's a good thing.

we also have the best year 'round climbing possibilities in the country with crags at just about every elevation imaginable. Between that and the large percentage of sunny days, there ain't a whole lot more you could ask for!

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health benefits of climbing:
For a rock climber, reaching the top is not the point. Like rearing children, rock climbing is the journey that matters most if you are climbing for fitness.
Whether their journey lasts two hours or two days, rock climbers can benefit from a mental workout as well as a physical one, according to competitive climber Michelle Hurni, president of the Colorado-based American Sport Climbers Federation (ASCF). Physically, rock climbing burns fat while strengthening muscles if pursued at a vigorous pace. Mentally, rock climbers exercise their ability to focus fully on a single task, an increasingly rare occurrence in this age of multitasking. Climbers also get practice confronting their fears- the fear of heights, the fear of falling, the fear of equipment failure. Ultimately, the sport can improve your self-confidence - if you learn how to climb safely, that is.

how many calories will rock climbing burn?
Ascending a natural rock wall burns up to 700 calories an hour if you weigh 140 pounds or up to 974 calories an hour if you weigh 190 pounds. Rock-climbing sessions tend to last at least six or seven hours.

further advantages:
In addition to offering an anaerobic and aerobic workout, rock climbing exercises almost every muscle group, according to Hurni of the ASCF. Rock climbing two or more times a week improves your strength, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and mental toughness.

click here for more info

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Desert Queries
by the Desert Awareness Committee of the Desert Foothills Land Trust

Q. How much rain does North Scottsdale usually receive?
A. The average annual precipitation during the 36 year period that data are available from the Sky Ranch airport station is 13.4 inches. But precipitation can vary widely from our driest year in 1997 when only 4.9 inches fell to 1993 when 23.9 inches was measured.

Q. When can we expect rain?
A. We can receive measurable amounts of precipitation during all months of the year. March and August are usually our wettest months (1.76 inches and 1.72 inches respectively), December (1.59 inches) and January (1.48 inches) are also rather damp. However, any month can be completely dry, but on average June is the driest (0.12 inch) followed by May (0.17 inch) and April (0.56 inch).

Q. How hot can it get in the Sonoran desert?
A. July is usually our warmest month with an average maximum air temperature of 101.6 degrees Farenheit, August and June are the next warmest months. The hottest day recorded at the Sky Ranch station was on July 28, 1995, when the air temperature reached 118 degrees. Cloudless nights during the winter months can be quite cold. Temperatures can dip below freezing from October through March. The coldest night in the past 36 years, January 13, 1963, when the temperature dropped to 15 degrees.

Q. What is dew point and why is it included in the weather forecast?
A. Weather persons used to talk about relative humidity, but relative humidity is no longer reported because as a measure of atmospheric moisture it is too dependent on air temperature to be of much value. The more precise measurement is dew point temperature, the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and relative humidity reaches 100 percent. Dew point temperature can be measured by a dew point hygrometer which passes air over a mirror cooled until light relfected off the mirror's surface changes in response to dew formation.

Questions about desert living may be sent to The Desert Awareness Committee, PO Box 1722, Cave Creek, Arizona 85327; e-mailed at info@dflt.org; or call (480) 488-6131.

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To sign up for a course call or email us to check availability. If a course is open click on the On-line Application Form or go to our application and map (meeting point) site, print out both the Application (PDF), Map and Waiver. Fill out the application and fax or mail it to us (don't fax the waiver, just bring it the day of your course).

Note: *Summer private courses at 6:00 a.m. - October thru April Beginner courses start at 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 depending upon weather at the designated pick-up point. Call us the day before your course starts to verify start time. Bring your own snacks, lunch, water, sunblock and wear appropriate clothing. Camera (disposable), writing pad and pen are recommended.
*Summer courses - May 1 thru September 30.

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course cancellations
While it is unlikely, if the Arizona Climbing and Adventure School cancels a course due to insufficient reservations or conditions beyond our control (weather, etc.); alternate dates or refunds will be given as preferred. If you cancel within 14 days prior to your session, rescheduling your course can be expected. There are no refunds on gift certificates. If you fail to show at the designated meeting place at the appointed time you will be charged for the course - there are no exceptions. If you would like to reschedule within 48-hours of the course's starting date, you may do so. To receive a full monetary refund (minus a 20% handling fee), 14 days notice is required (expect a refund within 2 billing cycles or 60-days of your course date). You may also want to purchase travel insurance due to cancellations – click here for more information.

liability
Although we spare no effort to assure a safe program, we can assume no responsibility for your safety or loss of personal equipment. In a sport of this nature an element of risk is inherent and beyond human control. A signed release (waiver) will be required of all participants. A parent or guardian release is required for students under the age of 18. These can be obtained in advance by contacting our office or downloading from our website.