Rock climbing specialists since 1974

info@high-xposure.com
(800) 777-CLIMB (2546)

CALL OR EMAIL TO BOOK A RESERVATION



About us



We were founded in 1974, and have been guiding rock and ice climbing trips in the Gunks and Catskills Mountans for more than 40 years. We became an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) accredited guiding service in 1986, when the accreditation program was established.

We work with clients with wide range of abilities and experience - from total beginners, introducing them to outdoor rock climbing, to avid climbers visiting the Gunks from other regions and interested in climbing the Gunks classic routes. We help organizing group climbing trips - corporate outings, family retreats, adventure groups. We have extensive experience working with kids - during school breaks, we guide rock climbing outings for summer camps and boy scout groups.

We also offer a wide range of climbing programs - we teach rock climbing techniques, rope management and anchors, multi-pitch, lead climbing and more. Additionally, we organize customized programs, based on your abilities and goals. We bring 40 years of high professionalism and safety.


Meet our guides

Bob Ferrari

Chief guide and Owner

“I have been fortunate to have spent the last 23 years of my life climbing at one of the Northeasts most pristine climbing areas, The Shawangunks mountain range.

For the last 14 of those 23 years I have had the privilege of working as a guide for the longest running guide service on the Mohonk Preserve, HighXposure Adventures Inc., formerly High Angle, founded by Jon Ross in 1974. We are proud to say that we're celebrating our 45th year of business. The last 19 years that I have spent guiding here have been some of the most rewarding years of my life.

As your ambassador to the "Gunks" it's my aim to make sure that every HighXposure client has the best possible climbing experience of their life. I truly enjoy meeting new people, sharing my climbing knowledge, and showing you all the beauty this wonderful area has to offer. I look forward to climbing and guiding here for many more years to come.”

Sue Kligerman

Lead Guide, AMGA and PCGI certified multi-pitch rock climbing instructor

“Back in the day, I used to teach public high school in Philadelphia. During the summers I was part of an Adventure Based Counseling team that worked with inner-city High School students. Rock Climbing was one of the many venues we used to mentor and develop these young teens. I became obsessed with the sport.

I was so infatuated, that I left my job, got rid of all my positions, packed up my little car, and headed to New York, specifically the Gunks. I moved into my tent and began living the dream! I started guiding fulltime in 1998. For the next 6 years I spent my winters guiding in El Potrero, Mexico and the rest of the season guiding at the gunks. I have guided and climbed all over the country and have had the opportunity to spend a month in France on two separate occasions.

I love teaching and I love climbing. How fortunate I am to share my passion with others! I love taking out beginners. Sharing the experience of someone's first time on rock, first time doing multipitch, first rappel is completely gratifying and exciting. My delight at other people's discovery of Rock Climbing confirms that I am leading the life I was meant to live. Alright, I know it sounds corny but it is true. My philosophy on guiding is to teach technique and skills that allow the climber to work their way up a route making their own decisions and solving their own puzzles.

In 2005 I began working fulltime at The United States Military Academy. I work in the Department of Physical Education teaching Rock Climbing and Military Movement. I am also the assistant coach of the USMA Competitive Climbing Team, and the coach of the West Point Recreational Climbing Team.

I am passionate about my job. I am blessed that every single day, I have the opportunity to teach, inspire and interact with the future leaders of this great country.”

Education

  • MA, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix, 2006-2007
  • BS, Health and Physical Education, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 1989-1991

Project Adventure

Courses taken:
  • Adventure Programming
  • Adventure Based Counseling (ABC)
  • Train the Trainer (advanced ABC)
  • Executive Reach - the course focused on creating adventure workshops for business populations.

Certifications

  • AMGA certified Rock Instructor
  • AMGA certified Single Pitch (SPI) Instructor/Provider
  • AMGA certified Climbing Wall (CWI) Instructor/Provider
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • United States Army
  • Air borne and Air assault: GO ARMY!

Oliver Carre

Olivier has been climbing since 2003 and in the Gunks since 2005, where he learned to trad climb as a client of …High-Xposure! He is AMGA SPI certified, is NY DEC licensed for Rock Guiding and completed his AMGA rock guide course.

While the Gunks is the “home crag”, Olivier enjoys all things mountain including ice climbing and skiing, though rock climbing is certainly the main sport having climbed on four continents. He resides in PA with his family

Simeon Heimowitz

Simeon is a licensed rock climbing guide, and a certified Wilderness First Responder who has been technical rock climbing since 1995 and has taught people how to climb and stay safe in the vertical world for the better part of twenty years. Simeon is active in several climbing coalitions throughout the northern continent and believes in protecting open space for future generations. You can find Simeon's name in guidebooks within the Red River Gorge, Kentucky, Mount Charleston, Nevada, Ralph Stover State Park in Bucks County Pennsylvania, the New River Gorge, West Virginia, and throughout Mexico including; El Potrero Chico, Peña de Bernal, and Aculco de Espinosa. Simeon learned to climb on traditional gear in the Delaware Water Gap, then moved onto the Gunks in 1996 which propelled him into a life as a climbing guide. Simeon considers himself firstly as a traditional climber even though the the majority of his route development is largely comprised in sport climbing areas.

Michael MacElhiney

Michael MacElhiney

My first outdoor climbing experience was guided by High Xposure’s own Sue Kligerman in 2000.

19 years later, my wife and I are avid rock and ice climbers and Gunks residents. Climbing has taken me around the country and around the world (Alaska, France, Switzerland, Sardinia, Malta, Canada) and allowed me to meet many amazing people.

I am active in the Adaptive climbing space and helped people of very different abilities to access the great sport of climbing.

Michael is a NY State Certified Tier 1 Rock and Ice Guide.

Eric Schlauch

Eric led his first pitch in the Gunks in 1980, and is very psyched to call the Gunks his home. He has climbed in much of the continental US, including the Adirondacks, Tetons, Devils Tower, Eldorado Canyon (although if you see him there, its likely his twin brother Mike), Boulder Canyon, the South Platte, Canyonlands, Colorado National Monument, Zion, Seneca, New River, Red River, Acadia, Cathedral, Cannon, Devils Tower, Vedauwoo, Quartz Mountain, Lovers Leap, Joshua Tree, Stone Mountain and many smaller crags he has since forgotten the names of, as well as some of the bigger stuff in Rocky Mountain National Park and Yosemite. He mostly trad climbs, but can be seen on a sport route at least once a year.

Eric grew up in NJ, coached high school lacrosse for many years, is a geologist, Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) in the state of NJ and is a Senior Managing Principal of an environmental consulting and site remediation firm.

He is a NY State licensed Rock Climbing Guide, AMGA SPI, and is certified by the Professional Climbing Guides Institute (PCGI). Eric has mentored many climbers and enjoys helping people safely progress to whatever grade makes them happy.

When he’s not guiding, you may see him riding his bike around the carriage roads, hiking with his wife Maggie and dog Oakie, trying to keep up with his son Adam on the hard stuff, or relaxing by a lake with his daughter Anna.

Dale Storti

Dale was first exposed to rock climbing while at summer camp in the Catskill Mountains. He signed up for a climbing trip to the Gunks and was immediately hooked. Since then, climbing has become a priority for him; competing in competitions as a teenager, traveling across the US and Canada to explore different environments and rock types, and now working as a guide in the place he first discovered climbing, the Gunks. He loves introducing people of all ages and backgrounds to climbing and hopes to help them have an initial experience as magical as his. When he is not guiding, Dale enjoys exploring the woods for unclimbed rock with his dog Esme, cooking at home, or going to live concerts. He is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor, NYS certified guide, and Wilderness First Responder.