“I detect lots of fear and intimidation when groups see all the ropes, equipment and where they’ll be climbing,” says Jay Foley, field manager for Mountain Skills Rock Guides in Taos, N.M. “By the end of the day, they’re all smiling because there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment.”
Popularized in movies and novels, rock climbing has a mystique that makes it very appealing to adventure seekers and even novices who just want to give it a try.
“It’s just as much of a mental challenge as it is physical, and that’s why it’s such a great teambuilding activity for corporate groups,” Foley says. “People work together to coax each other to overcome fears and focus intently on accomplishing their goals.
“The desert landscape is very inspirational to people and the sheer cliffs they climb demand execution at a high level.”
Mountain Skills takes climbers to areas near Taos and Santa Fe such as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the pine forests of The El Rito Climbing Area and Tres Piedras, Cimarron and Comales Canyons. It also conducts corporate climbing programs at the Red Rock National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, which is known for its sandstone formations and great hand-holds with lots of edges and holes.
A typical rock climbing teambuilding experience lasts about three hours and groups as large as 80 can be accommodated.
Participants are taught basic rock climbing techniques by an experienced instructor and they work in groups to achieve goals.
“Once they start climbing they hold the safety rope for each other so they can motivate and create trust,” Foley says. “Communication is the key in climbing safety and the climbers depend a lot on each other for success.”
He says his climbing programs improve morale and leadership skills, identify a team’s strengths and weaknesses, and improve the ability to problem solve quickly.
“Rock Climbing is a high-impact learning experience that absolutely demands teamwork,” Foley explains. “People achieve success one step at a time and need motivation and positive reinforcement, just like in business, to reach their potential.
“There’s nothing more special than seeing someone grinning from ear to ear at the top of a cliff,” he adds, “when just a couple of hours before they were terrified and thought it would be an absolutely impossible task.”
