What is belaying and rappeling?

Belaying is what is done by a belayer. They hold the rope using a special tool called a belay device to securely hold the rope in the event the climber falls. Rappelling is where someone has to get down from their ascent or in some cases like the Black Canyon to get to the bottom of the climb. The rope is fixed in some fashion to an anchor and a belay device connected to the rappeler allows them to slide down the rope in a controlled fashion.

Is it ok if I'm afraid of heights?

Having anxiety around being high off the ground is pretty normal. Lots of people, even guides, get some butterflies in their stomach when looking at a big drop, when we feel out of control, or even feeling far away from the ground. Guides have a lot of experience and techniques for helping you work through your fears and ensure you have the best experience possible. Not every activity is a hit for every person but trying it once may help you with progress and realize that you can overcome your fears.

Does the certify me to climb or belay people?

Outdoor climbing does not require a certification. Not even to be a guide in the US (read more about that here). After our climbing courses guides like to provide feedback in order to let people know what skills we worked on, how well they did, and what, in our professional opinion, they are capable of. Belaying and rappelling are not overly complicated skills and we have confidence in the ability to teach it but that does not give any formal qualifications regarding belaying skills.

Is climbing outdoors harder than indoors?

There is no clean answer to this question. In reality they're very different. Most indoor climbs are consistently steep but all the holds are marked and really positive. Outdoor climbing has the wind and elements and generally have lower angles or more rests but they're taller and holds aren't as obvious. The grades indoors may feel easier than outdoors for most people because of this which is a whole other thing.