Gap Year Climbing Jobs

Hi guys,

I am graduating from high school in may next year and will take a year off from studies in order to travel and have some good experiences. My main objective during the gap year is to climb as much as possible whilst living out of a van. My only problem is that although I have some money put aside, it won't be enough for the year, meaning I'll need to get a job. I was wondering if there are any jobs I could do which are related to climbing without needing a ton of training?

Cheers, Johannes.

Don't know if this will interest you. But, you could be a camp counselor. If you look hard enough you can find one that will give you room and board. They'll probably run a one and done CPR class and let you be a belay slave. It'll only run through summer but it's 3 months of not wasting gas or spending money. Just a thought.

Climbing gym. Maybe rei and just ask for transfers to different states. Trail maintence for parks.

Mike Caracciolo wrote:Don't know if this will interest you. But, you could be a camp counselor. If you look hard enough you can find one that will give you room and board. They'll probably run a one and done CPR class and let you be a belay slave. It'll only run through summer but it's 3 months of not wasting gas or spending money. Just a thought.

Camp Chief Ouray is a fantastic summer camp that I used to go to and work at. The director is amazing, actually all of the staff is. It also puts some AMAZING climbing areas within an hour or two. I haven't been there recently, but I hear there is a climbing wall there now. A zipline too, and knot tying courses.

They run activities all year round, but its primarily a summer thing. Young adult and adult things happen more in the spring and fall.

I did the summer camp gig this past summer and made about 3000 for a long term climbing trip. You work mid may through august (2.5 months generally) and then you're outta there. I love working at summer camps. Its a total blast. Many have adventure programs/high ropes courses/climbing walls just waiting for people like us to staff!

Summer camp is way lots of fun, but seems to cut into peoples' climbing time. Working with kids and climbing a lot don't really go hand in hand. If you want to climb a lot, try getting a job waiting tables / busing / swinging a hammer in a town with a lot of climbers and great climbing, like Vegas, Bend, SLC or Moab. And in the summer, starting in late May, early June, working for the Delaware North Company in Yosemite Valley is a great way to get a long term sleeping spot in the greatest climbing area on earth. Good luck!

Another thought, pick up a job at Miguel's Pizza after you graduate. Spend the summer there, get strong, live cheaply and make a little money. Head west after the shop closes for winter.