NOLS is pretty hard core. I did the NOLS "North Cascades Mountaineering" course and it was brutal. 30 days with 90lb packs and they don't hold anything back. They figure the best way to learn is by doing so they don't tend to go for the beginner routes. We had one guy evac'd and two other dropped out part way through due to simply being terrified. Some folks just don't enjoy climbing up 50 degree ice slopes with man eating crevasses waiting below Attached is a pic I took on the course

Never did El Cap. Got into the planning stages a couple of times but it's a big commitment. Not to mention that you need literally thousands of $ worth of gear. I've done a number of big climbs though. The regular route up Fairview Dome in Tuolumne, Middle Cathedral in Yosemite, the standard route up Cathedral Peak in Tuolumne, and a route up something called Calaveras Dome. the other pic is me about 1,000 feet up on Calaveras
Fengzi Reviewed by Fengzi on . Anyone else into Rock Climbing/ Mountaineering? Anyone else into Rock Climbing/ Mountaineering? Just wondering, at least 90% of the climbers I know are smokers but I haven't really seen anyone on here mention it. Rating: 5