A. You would be amazed how well some of the petite girls do in this sport. If done correctly, rock climbing
is a sport that uses more ballance and finese than upper body strength. On our first day of the beginning class
we take everyone to a lower angled wall that is fairly slick, and void of handholds. The only way to get up it
is to use your feet. In fact we intentionally take people there on the first day so that we can force them to
learn how to climb with their feet rather than using hands and arms. Once you get the balance techniques
down, you will find out that your legs will do 80% of the work, and your hands are just used for balance. The
girlfriends will very often outperform their male counterparts because their balance is often better.

Q. When is the next class?

A. We have our classes at the Wichita Wildlife Refuge EVERY MONTH, year round.
The beginning class is on the second weekend of every month, and the intermediate
is on the fourth. Anchors classes are typically taught with only two or three clients at
a time, and those dates are set up as requests come in. Call us if you are interested
in the anchors class. The Mineral Wells trips are always on the first Saturday of every month.
Don't get left behind...sign up in advance!!

Q. What equipment do I need to bring?

A. If you are camping out, then you only need to bring along some camping gear (tent,
sleeping bag, and ground pad). You will also need to bring a small daypack, some sturdy
hiking shoes or boots, some sun screen and workout clothes (keep the local weather in
mind). Shorts work fine. For summer days, count on bringing along one gallon of water
per person for each day. We recommend "water bottle jackets" from Outdoor Research
for keeping your water bottles ice cold in the summer. Hangdog will provide all of the
climbing equipment, including rock shoes and harnesses (free of charge).

Q. How do I get there? (Wichitas, Mineral Wells, or E-Rock)

We have downloadable maps on the courses and trips pages. Just select the highlighted
name for "Lawton, Oklahoma," "Mineral Wells" or "Enchanted Rock" and a map will come up. Just
follow the instructions to print it out.

Q. Do I get a discount if I have my own shoes and harness?

A. Yes, but only for the beginning and intermediate trips. For these trips, take off $10.00
on the price. That comes to $115.00 for the beginning, and $140.00 for the intermediate.
Sorry, the anchors class and Mineral Wells class prices are the same with or without your
own shoes and harness. Hangdog guides have to approve your harness before they will
allow you to use it.

Q. What will we do in the beginning class?

A. We start the first day with a short belay school. If you already know how to belay,
then we will let you start climbing right away. We like to teach people as they climb, and
on the first day we like to cover face climbing skills, basic equipment, and terminology.
First day climbs range in difficulty from 5.5 to 5.10. On the second day, we go to a different
wall which is steeper and harder, and the climbs range from 5.7 to 5.10. On the second
day we cover top-rope anchor setting, crack climbing techniques, and rappeling. We
typically have five or six top rope routes set up for each day, and you are free to roam
around and jump on whatever line you wish to try.

Q. I've been climbing indoors. What class should I take?

We strongly recomment the beginning class for people who have only climbed indoors.
We have found that indoor climbers miss a LOT of info if they skip the beginning class.
But don't worry, we guarantee that you will be challenged with our beginning course routes.

Q. Where do we meet the guides?

For the Wichitas: Guides will meet you at the front gate to Camp Doris at
7:30am on Saturday morning. Camp Doris is the only campground on the refuge, and it is very
easy to find. Just look for the signs when you enter the refuge. If we have a group camping
site reserved, then we will meet you there on Friday night. When you pull into the campground,
just ask the rangers if Hangdog has a group site reserved. We will not reserve a group site if
we are only expecting a small group. Sorry, Camp Doris does not reserve individual
sites in advance so sites are first-come, first-served. If Doris is full, then there is
another campground at Lake Latonka which is almost never full. Ask the rangers for directions
to Latonka if you need to. If you are staying in town on Friday night, then please allow
at least 40 minutes to get to Camp Doris on time. If you are late, then you can check the chalk
board for messages describing where you can meet the group.
For Mineral Wells: Guides will meet you in the climbing area at 8:00am
on the day of your trip. The climbing area is small, so it should be easy to find us.
For Enchanted Rock: Call us for a meeting location.

Q. What do we do about food?

A. We hate to cook out. Count on going to breakfast with us in the morning while the
guides are setting up ropes in the Wichitas. The gates to the trailheads don't open till 9:00am,
so we use the extra morning time to get acquainted, eat breakfast, and outfit everyone in shoes and
harnesses. Everyone joins us for dinner and some "brew dogs" in town on Saturday night.
We can decide later about what to do for meals when you call about Enchanted Rock, but for
now, count on eating German food and downing a few beers in Fredericksburg on Saturday night.
Pack other food for your breakfasts and lunch! If you are going to Mineral Wells with us,
then just bring along some sack lunch items and look out for Brian. He eats everything within reach.

Q. Are there hotels around Lawton?

A. Yep. Holliday Inn, Ramada, Howard Johnsons.....you name it, Lawton has it. Just
call information for phone numbers. Please allow 40 minutes driving time to meet us on
Saturday morning at the front gate to Camp Doris. We will look for you at 7:30am sharp!

Q. What is the camping like in the Wichitas?

A. The campground is actually VERY nice. You camp next to your car, and there are lots
of trees, lakes, streams, flushing toilets and HOT SHOWERS! It is actually one of the best
campgrounds that we have ever stayed in.

Q. Are there any long hikes that we have to endure in the Wichitas or Mineral Wells?

A. Not really. The first day's hike in the Wichitas is 1.25 miles in length, and the second
day hike is just a couple of hundred yards. For the intermediate Wichitas classes, we
usually go into the Narrows (a beautiful place), which is about a mile. We will drive to the
trailheads after we eat breakfast at the restaurant, so please bring everything that you need
for the day! Mineral Wells is a real "soft man" location and the hike is only about 100 yards
from your car.

Q. What is the weather like in the Wichitas?

A. Dry, and about 10 degrees cooler than temperatures in Dallas. When it's raining in
Oklahoma City and Dallas, it's usually dry in the Wichitas. Most winters are pretty tame,
and you can often climb in December and January.

Q. What is the cancellation policy for rock climbing classes?

A. Full refunds are given for cancellations made at least one week in advance. Sorry,
no refunds are given for second-day dropouts or no-shows. Forty percent refunds are given
if one day is rained out. Ninety percent refunds are given if both days are rained out. This
gives us just enough money to pay for our guides gas and expenses to the location without
being unfair to our clients.

Q. Does Hangdog guide to other rock climbing destinations?

A. Yes. We have done multiple rock climbing trips to various places in Colorado, Utah,
Washington and British Columbia. If you would like to go someplace not listed in the
Hangdog brochure, then please call us and we can try to match you up with a partner.

Q. How do I sign up for a trip?

A. Each participant must contact Hangdog in advance to verify the dates and logistical
details for each trip. Team members MUST pay for their trip at least 30 days in advance,
and participants should NOT buy airline tickets without checking with Hangdog first. Hangdog
will not buy airfares for our guides until payment is received, and we would rather not book our airline
tickets at the last minute, so please plan ahead, and pay in
advance. You can pay by check, Visa, Mastercard or AMEX. Antarctica and Himalaya trips will
require extensive preplanning, and you may be required to pay a non-refundable deposit
in advance, so please call for details. Sorry, all trip fees are non-refundable.

Q. What does the trip price cover?

A. Colorado Ice Climbing, Alaska Kayaking, Hueco Tanks, and Portrero Chico Trips -
Price listed is for the guide fee only. You must pay for your own airfare. We will ride in the
same rental car, and rental car costs are split between the clients. The prices will vary
depending on the time of year and the location that we fly into. Rental car costs will typically
range from $25.00 to $75.00 per person per trip. For the Alaska trip, the fee also covers
kayak fees, kayak ferry fees, camp food and hotel accomodations. Antarctica, Ecuador
and Himalayas fees cover hotels and ground transportation - call for details.

Q. What kind of experience do I need to take a trip?
A. Some areas are harder than others, and we can always custom order a trip. We consider
Eldorado Canyon in Colorado, and Hueco Tanks in Texas to be good beginning areas. If
you climb 5.8, then you will do well in both of these locations. We have also guided on
Castleton Tower and Moses in Utah, and these trips require the participants to climb 5.10.
Portrero Chico has some great routes that are rated 5.9 for limestone, which makes them
feel like a 5.8 on Texas and Oklahoma granite. We try to "ability group" people into rope
teams that suit their skills. We like to pair 5.7 - 5.8 people together, and 5.9 - 5.10 people
together. We will always screen people before each trip, so if you don't know where you
fit in, then please call us and we can talk about it! Ice climbing skills are radically different
from rock, so only beginning level (top rope) experience is needed for those trips. Alpine
climbing experience is necessary for Antarctica and Ecuador, so call us for further information.
No experience is necessary for the Alaska Kayak trips. Backpacking experience is required
for the Himalaya trekking trip.

Q. What is the client to guide ratio?

A. We do our rock climbing trips to Hueco Tanks and Portrero Chico with a client to
guide ratio of 3 to 1 maximum. Antarctica will be 3 to 1 maximum. Himalayas will be 5 to 1
maximum. Alaska Kayaking will be 6 to 1 maximum. Ecuador will be 4 to 1 maximum. The
Ice climbing trips are done with either a 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 ratio.

Q -How cold is it on the Ice trips? Q -What type of equipment will I need?

A -Temperatures in Ouray and Telluride are not any colder than your average ski slope.
Expect the daytime temperatures to be in the twenties. We recommend that people have
some good fleece clothing, expedition weight insulated underwear, and a good pair of
mittens. Some type of water resistant shell is also required (like gore-tex). Hats and helmets
are also required (we provide helmets). Hangdog will supply ice tools, crampons and all
of the necessary hardware for your trip. You only have to provide the necessary plastic
boots which can be rented if needed.