Raleigh based rock climbing and ice climbing guide service and climbing school has expanded it’s climbing class offerings to climbers in Western NC by offering their Climb Outside Rock Climbing Class on September 26-27, 2009 at Looking Glass Rock NC. These classes give people the knowledge, skills, and understanding they need to begin rock climbing outside. Asheville is an ideal location for these classes because of the volume of climbing areas, and the volume of people who desire to learn how to climb outdoors but aren’t sure where to get started. Students learn anchor building, rope management, knot tying, belaying, rappelling, rescue, and more. The class consists of 2 full day sessions, where the first day will be spent teaching the skills, and the second day will be spent putting the newly acquired skills into practice. The classes are open to all experience levels, and all equipment is provided. Details on the Asheville Climb Outside Rock Climbing Class can be found on the Climb Outside Website (http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/04/asheville-climb-outside-class/).
“Taking this class taught me a lot and confirmed things I had already been in the process of learning. Even though I have much more to learn it allowed me to feel confident, to go with my partner, and climb outside at my current level,” expresses Chris Troisi, a Climb Outside Class participant.
For an interview, or to find out more information about the classes and unique services Ascent Adventure Consultants provides, please contact Brandon Hensinger at bhensinger@ascenadventure.com or 877-254-4617. Also, visit the Ascent Adventure Consultants website to learn more.
Ascent Adventure Consultants is a Raleigh, NC based professional rock and ice climbing guiding and instruction provider, as well as a corporate team building and leadership development program provider. Climbing courses and team building programs are conducted locally, nationally and internationally.

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Pat Goodman presented a slideshow on his climbing ventures from the past year. It was an incredible slideshow. We were able to see some of the alpine climbing in India that he did, as well as some of the local North Carolina projects that he has been working on.

Here’s what Carolina Climbers Coalition said on their website about the event:

Sunday evening at the Carolina Brewery in downtown Carrboro, almost 30 climbers got together for the first ever Brewfest, organized by Brandon Hensinger of Adventure ascents consultants with generous support from Andrew and Luis of the Triangle Rock Club. Folks were treated to ample food and more beer than most could drink (well almost). Pat Goodman entertained folks with a wonderful multimedia presentation of his adventures in North Carolina, his most recent expedition to India and some awesome footage from a sailing expedition to the Bahamas. One of the best parts of the event was that it served as a wonderful opportunity to get folks together to meet as a community. A very generous raffle was contributed to by the All about Beer, American Alpine Club, Asana climbing, Ascent Adventure Consultants, Carolina Brewery, Crank forearm fuel, Evolve, Frikshn T-shirts, Metolius, Misty Mountain Threadworks, Mountain Hardware, Supertopo’s super guidebooks, and the Triangle Rock Club. Just about everyone who attended won something in the raffle which helped to raise over $300.00 for the CCC. Big thanks go out to Brandon, Thomas, Andrew, Luis, Pat and the wonderful staff of the Carolina Brewery for supporting such a great event! We look very forward to the next Climbers Brew.

We look forward to next year, where we assume it will all be even bigger and better!

Brandon is a true professional when it comes to guiding climbs. He’s an excellent teacher, and his problem solving ability is extraordinary. During the first hour of my first outdoor climb, I encountered an obstacle I didn’t think I could overcome. After twenty minutes of attempting to negotiate the obstacle, I shouted, “Brandon? I don’t think I can make it across this gap to scale that overhang the way you just did. How do we get down?” He said, “We can’t get down from there. If you can’t do it that way, let me figure something else out.” He drew from his experience and came up with a creative solution that kept me in the game. He continued to impress me throughout the trip with his patience, encouragement, and skill. I am definitely looking forward to my next climbing experience.

Apex, North Carolina- July 1, 2009-  Ascent Adventure Consultants, in conjunction with Dancing Elephants Achievement Group is offering the Win! Win! Negotiation Seminar as part of their combined Ultimate Sales Training series. The seminar will take place on July 17, 8:30am-12:30pm, at the Business and Networking Center of Cary NC. Through sales training and experiential activity reinforcement, each participant will have the opportunity to put their learned skill sets into practice immediately. The result is a deeper understanding and the reinforcement necessary for both immediate and long-term retention. The session includes training, a workbook, coffee, and snacks. Details can be found on the Dancing Elephants Achievement Group Ultimate Sales Training Website.

“I greatly enjoy designing team building activities and programs built upon the principles that Dancing Elephants teaches,” quotes Brandon Hensinger, owner of Ascent Adventure Consultants. “Knowing that the participants will be able to reinforce Dancing Elephants training  with my activities is exciting because I know they will not forget the valuable lessons they learn.”

The focus will be on how to read situations and people quickly, how to answer price objections, how to use added value as a bargaining tool, how to develop long term customers during negotiations, and the 3 phases and 6 steps necessary in every negotiation.

Ascent Adventure Consultants is a professional North Carolina corporate team building and leadership development company, as well as a rock climbing and adventure guiding company, headquartered in Apex NC.

Dancing Elephants is dedicated to helping corporations to create vibrant, successful sales cultures by applying the principles of ethical selling. Customized training is offered through on-site group programs, monthly sales meetings, workshops, and speaking engagements. Please visit their website at http://www.deagsales.com.

For more information, please contact Brandon Hensinger, at bhensinger@ascentadventure.com, or 877-254-4617. More information can be learned about Ascent Adventure Consultants by visiting their North Carolina Rock Climbing and Team Building website at www.ascentadventure.com.

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The whole trip was wonderful. The best part for me was the Wailing Wall climb. The start of that climb was very difficult for me, and because this was toward the end of the day, I was pretty tired and feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do it. I did make it, with some wailing on my own at certain moments. Jason was a wonderful guide; he talked me through the scary moments and made me feel completely safe. I had only done sport climbing prior to this trip, so Jason took the time to teach me about all of the gear involved in trad. I learned a lot and will definitely be signing up for more trips in the future. I can’t thank you enough.
-Kelly, Climbing Course Participant

I wanted to share, over the next few days, what some of the lessons I learned from climbing are.

There is nothing that is truly impossible.With determination, the right tools, the right training, and the right people, you can accomplish anything.

When I began climbing, I remember standing at the base of Route 2 (5.3) at Ralph Stover State Park’s High Rocks climbing area. I had big clunky hiking boots on, and was a bit overweight and probably hadn’t done ANY kind of exercise for a while… and was sure that I’d make it to the top. But much to my dismay, I did not make it more than 5 feet off the ground.

Now, many people may have given up at that point. But I, by nature am a very determined person and did not give up. Yes, on that day, I realized that it was impossible for me to make it to the top. But instead of throwing in the towel and thinking “This is for everyone else…even though I want to do it. I guess it’s not for me,” I went home and gathered up whatever money I had from my job as a waiter, and bought a pair of climbing shoes, a rope, a harness, 7 carabiners, and 100 feet of webbing. Then I bought a book that would teach me how to climb. I poured over whatever material I could find to learn how to do it, and I made sure to ask as much advice as possible from the people who took me out climbing for that first time.

I began to run, do pullups, and lift weights. I began to surround myself with climbers who could teach me, and within 3 months, I easily climbed Route 2 at High Rocks State Park. As soon as I stood on top of that cliff, something clicked. I realized “WOW! It wasn’t impossible,” and from that moment on, I vigorously pursued climbing.

Now I am getting nostalgic and feel like writing more and more. But I won’t say too much more, except that as soon as I got to college, I got involved with Quest, the climbing guiding service at the University and continued to train hard and push myself. I remember saying “Climbing is great! But I’ll never do that Trad Climbing thing. That is just WAY too scary.” Well, within 3 months of being at college, I learned enough about trad climbing that I set out and bought my own rack, and led Route 2 at High Rocks State Park as my first trad lead. One thing continued to lead to another, and I eventually become a climbing guide and coordinator for Quest.

Through the experience I gained in climbing, I also became involved with conducting team building and leadership development programs through Quest and Corporate Institute, and even changed my major to Organizational Communication, with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership.

And here I am today, having started my own climbing guiding and team building company, founded upon the principles and life lessons I have learned through climbing.

So how did all this apply to me starting my own company?

Even though many people seemed to be in my way, and there were SO many obstacles to overcome, never once did I think that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I wanted to make it happen, so I was confident it would.

I made sure to surround myself with people who could help me. Building relationships not only benefited my business, but it also improved my life as I have been able to meet so many people.

I was not afraid and am not afraid to invest in my company. By making my initial investment into climbing, it opened the doors to a whole new world, and the same is true in business.

What might look difficult on the road ahead, only looks exciting to me now. Difficulties and trials only excite me more!

NEVER stop learning. NEVER think you know it all.

]]> http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/reflections-on-how-climbing-helped-me-start-my-business/feed/ 0 http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/news-and-observer-rock-climbing-and-business-article/ http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/news-and-observer-rock-climbing-and-business-article/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:01:45 +0000 brandon http://www.ascentadventure.com/?p=1363 One of my biggest goals is to help people see how rock climbing not only is a fun activity, but that it also applies to all areas of life. You can imagine how delighted I was this morning to wake up and see this article on NewsObserver.com, the website of Raleigh NC’s leading newspaper:

If There’s a Mountain, Climb It

I strive to blend these two worlds together in everything I do and with all the businesses I work with. I have really grown to have a great passion for connecting climbing and outdoor experiences with business success and growth. Some of the concepts that I have been able to help others apply are those mentioned above, as well as trusting the tools you have for the job, learning how to manage stress, learning how to conquer unhealthy fears, and talking to oneself instead of listening to oneself.

It’s great to see others, especially in the Raleigh NC area, who share the same outlook that I do. Hopefully others read this article too and see the powerful impact that rock climbing can have on business.

Chris, Danel, and Derek, the class participants first practiced building top rope anchors using cliff top and cliff face bolts.  Being

quick learners they soon moved on to doing their first outside rappels from the of  the 90ft’ cliff.  The rappel was done using an anchor they made using natural features.  The group had fun playing on the “Parking Lot” routes of “Thin to Win,” “Chicken Bone,” and the unnamed route called “Chicken Wing” by some.

Next the group moved to the Three Bears area for practice with setting up cliff top safety lines.  After some more anchors building the threesome climbed three more routes.  The day was finished off with some belay escape practice.  It had been a day of successful day of “firsts” for everyone as all headed home with confidence in their skills to climb outside.

Thanks Ascent!

Joe from PA

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP AT THE TABLE ROCK JUNE 2009 PHOTO GALLERY