Are You New to The Rope and Stone Newsletter?

Start by reading this post!

Welcome to the Rope and Stone newsletter!

With Rope and Stone, you will find writings about my work as a rock climbing guide. My journey as a climbing guide began six years ago after I made a massive career shift from non-profit work to full-time guiding.

I am an Assistant Rock Guide trained by the American Mountain Guides Association and a Tier II Rock Climbing Guide licensed through New York State.

Currently, I guide for Mountain Skills Climbing Guides, located on the Shawangunk Ridge (aka the Gunks) in upstate New York.

To learn more about me, please visit my website, twdondanville.com.

Rope and Stone has three main categories*:

1.) When the Guide Gets Guided–

learning moments from my work as a rock climbing guide

• How I Learned to be a Rock Climbing Guide

• Falling With a Client On Belay

• Climbing Ropes Misbehave When They Are Unsupervised

2.) Creative Climbing Concoctions–

rock-climbing-inspired poetry (and maybe some short-form fiction)

• Fingertips and Toes

• Colors of the Gunks

• The Cliff is Alive

3.) Trip Report Database–

stories and practical information about my climbing objectives

• Honeymoon Rock Climbing in Cojitambo

• Climbing Mt. Colden via the Trap Dike

• Ed and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

*This isn’t a complete Table of Contents—go clicking in the archive for more Rope and Stone writing.

My Goal with Rope and Stone

If I can get you to see, feel, or understand what I do as a climbing guide– then I think I’ve done my job. Even better– if I can motivate you to try rock climbing or, better yet, join me for a day of climbing, then I’d be thrilled.