How do I pick my trip date?

For our climbing courses and events, the date is planned in advance, and you sign up for certain dates and locations.

For our private rock climbing trips, we plan the trips around your schedule. When you add the trip to your cart, you will have a chance to fill in your date and location preferences. After you sign up for your day, we will reach out to you and gather some more information about you, your goals, and your availability. We will then pick a date based on your preferences.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We need a minimum of 5 days to plan your trip, and at DCR locations a minimum 14 days notice is required to get the proper permitting. If you ever want to try a trip sooner than 5 days ahead, please reach out by email first.

What is the difference between a “course”, “event”, and a “private day”?

Our climbing courses are pre-planned days with a set rock climbing curriculum in mind. The courses have slots that anyone can sign up for on specific dates. This means that you will be learning the content alongside other climbers that are signed up for your course. The size of the group will depend on your course. This can range from 2-8 people per course.

Our rock climbing events are 3-4 hour sessions of outdoor climbing. You can sign up for a specific date and location. Events are totally focused on climbing top rope outside and having fun climbing.

Our private climbing days are one-on-one days for your group with an instructor. Since these days are private, the date and goals of the day are completely up to you. You can use these days to take one of our courses privately, learn custom material not offered in one of our courses, or just have a fun day of climbing under the supervision of one of our certified instructors. The private days can also be adjusted to your personal skill level. There is no limit on group size for our private days. You will need to contact us directly for groups of 9+ climbers to get special pricing.

What age is appropriate for your climbing packages?

There is no hard age cutoff for any of our private climbing packages. Our private guided days can be customized to be appropriate for any age, and we love to see kids come rock climb outside with us.

For most public courses and events, we require an age of 13+. Sometimes we will offer rock climbing events for kids that allow climbers 6-14. We only offer our trad climbing courses to climbers 16+, and we recommend an age of 18+ to learn trad climbing.

What happens if there is rain or bad weather?

For private trips, your instructor will reach out to you during the week leading up to your trip, and we will be in constant communication about weather forecasts. If the day you scheduled does have weather that prevents climbing, you will be given priority in rescheduling an appointment to another day that works into your schedule.

Public courses and events WILL continue through light rain. If the weather is severe enough to prevent climbing, a rain date will be selected and you will be given the option to opt out for a refund, minus a 3% transaction fee.

Can I bring my own climbing gear? Or is gear provided?

Climbing gear rental is included with your trip, so you do not need to bring your own. This gear includes:

• helmet

• harness

• belay device

• shoes

• personal anchor system and friction hitch sling

Other equipment such as rope and anchor material is also brought by the instructor. For our trips that teach trad climbing, all trad climbing equipment is also provided.

If you wish to use their own equipment (which we encourage if you are looking to progress to independent outdoor climbing). Note that your instructor will inspect your equipment at the start of the day. Common issues include soft goods being over 10 years old, excessive wear, and/or unknown equipment history. If any equipment is believed to be unsafe or unfit for use, you will be asked to use equipment provided by Greater Boston Climbing School.

What is your cancelation policy?

You can cancel your trip for a full refund (less 3% transaction and permit fees) up to 14 days before your trip. Cancellations 14 days or sooner before your trip are not eligible for a refund. We realize things happen and at our discretion we will make a good faith effort to reschedule or refund your trip if possible. No-shows are not eligible for a refund. Our goal is to balance maintaining a profitable business and cultivate positive, fair, long term client relationships.

Can I bring my pet on my trip?

Pets are generally discouraged for many reasons. For our public climbing events and courses, pets are not allowed. Contact us for service animal exceptions. For private days, pets may be considered if certain criteria are met.

We at GBCS love animals and love seeing them when we are outside, but bringing pets like dogs add an additional layer to the risk management of the group for the day. Managing pets, even those on tether or with a handler, can take attention away from our instructors who are suppose to be managing you, the climber. In addition even if your pet is mild-mannered, they can attract unwanted attention from other animals in the area and create challenges for our instructors and other members of the group. We also have no protective equipment for your animals to keep them safe from potential rock fall or other natural hazards.

For public events or courses, to be fair to the other climbers and your instructors, pets need to stay at home. If you arrive at the crag with your pet, you will not be allowed to climb until the pet is returned home and refunds will not be given if you cannot return to the crag afterwards. The only exception to this policy is for service animals, but you still need to reach out beforehand in this case.

For private days, if you are aware of the additional risks, have had a discussion with your instructors, and stipulations of the area in use allow, pets may be permissible. Note that we still strongly recommend not bringing animals to the crag. Be warned that bringing an animal may effect your climbing day and our instructor’s abilities to help you reach your climbing goals. We are also not responsible for the risk management of your animal including protecting them from natural hazards, other animals at the crag, or escaping into the woods near the crag. If you bring your animal, we expect you to follow LNT principles, which means you are expected to clean up after your animal and prevent them for activities that would alter the crag like digging holes.

Do I Tip My Guides / Instructors?

While not a requirement, gratuities are always appreciated. These typically range from 10%-25% of the cost of the program depending on the quality of the experience and a customers discretion. In some cases such as school groups or instructional courses tipping may not be appropriate. Please come prepared to provide gratuities directly to your guide / instructor.