Safety is our first, primary, and paramount concern.

It is impossible to think about climbing without thinking about the safety procedures that make it possible. Safety is integrally bound to and part and parcel of all climbing activities. When two friends go climbing each assumes responsibility not only for his own safety but for that of his partner as well. After all, each climber, whether going first (leading), or going second must safeguard his partner with the rope at all times. Even allowing for a discrepancy in ability, our two climbing friends have a certain level of experience and a certain level of expectation as to the safety awareness that each can depend on from the other.

In an instructional setting, whether working with beginning climbers or those with more experience, a guide can make no assumptions about the safety awareness of his students. Therefore, the guide must bring to the activity a heightened level of vigilance that goes far beyond what might be required in the example of our two climbing friends.

HighXposure guides are trained to anticipate the kind of safety considerations and possible scenarios that, as noted above, far transcend the needs of the recreational climber. All of our guides participate in an ongoing program of continuing education in safety training as recommended by the American Mountain Guides Association.