Sherman's Travel

Is there a mom in your midst who could use a dose of weekend adventure?

Then consider a unique Mother’s Day gift that’s sure to rock her world: the Girls on Granite weekend climbing program at Yosemite National Park. This women’s-only offering, in its fourth season, provides participants with a morning of personal instruction from experienced female guides, training and climbing, as well as shared accommodations with other class participants, for just $214 per person.

The program is available for three different skill levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced – with the beginner class (no climbing experience necessary) taking place on June 15-17. The cost includes shared accommodations in a heated tent cabin in Curry Village, and gear is also provided if you need it.

In the program’s beginner class, participants will learn the basics of climbing, equipment, safety systems, and climbing techniques – and then put all that into action on section of cliff called Swan Slab, which has many climbs of varying difficulty. Classes are limited to 12 women (all ages welcome, and the school can accommodate girls aged 10-12 years old but they must be accompanied by a parent), with six participants per guide, ensuring plenty of personal attention. On the second day, participants can enjoy the park on their own, or put their new skills to use in a co-ed class.

Women rock climbers are, indeed, rocking it these days. The sport’s popularity is soaring among female athletes, and more women are carving out a name for themselves in a following traditionally dominated by men. In fact, on April 26, American climber Sasha DiGiulian became the first woman to reach the top of a route called Era Bella, graded at a ridiculously difficult 5.14d, in Margalef, Spain. Last year, the 19-year-old DiGiulian won the overall gold at the climbing world championships and snagged her third consecutive national sport-climbing title.

In other Yosemite news, Tioga Road, the east-west stretch that accesses the park’s beautiful, and much less traveled, back country, opened to vehicle traffic on May 7. This marks the earliest opening date for the road since 1987. Campgrounds along Tioga Road, however, have not yet opened for the season.

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