The University of Alabama is home to many recreational climbers. Some venture to the Rec to hone their skills on the indoor rock wall. Others wait for the Outdoor Recreation program to offer their once-a-semester climbing trip. Derek DeBruin wants to offer those more antsy climbers another option.
DeBruin, who graduated from the University with a MA in higher education administration, recently launched Peregrine Climbing Guides, a new rock climbing instructional program. He shared his passion for the vertical world and excitement about the fall season with the Crimson White:
The Crimson White: When did rock climbing become one of your passions?
Derek DeBruin: My first climbing experiences were in high school where I had a few friends who really enjoyed it. For undergrad, I attended the University of South Carolina where I finally had access to a climbing wall. I started climbing frequently and, as soon as I could, I made the transition to outdoor climbing. I’ve been doing it for seven years now and have touched rocks at several different places all over the country.
CW: Why did you start your business?
DD: I’ve worked in the outdoor recreation industry for about five years as a climbing guide, rafting guide and an Outward Bound instructor. But one of my biggest enjoyments has always been climbing. I’ve noticed that it’s an untapped resource in the state – actually, as far as I’m aware, there’s no other climbing guide program in Alabama.
My wife is a student at the University, so after I finished my masters I remained in Tucsaloosa and thought I could share my passion with the students. Outdoor climbing is really a great learning experience and I think students would relish the opportunity if they only got some exposure.
CW: What kind of services do you offer?
DD: We offer anything from absolute-beginner, never-climbed-before-in-my-life, single-pitch trips on small rock faces to more advanced, multi-pitch objectives on larger cliffs. Once we’re at the area, we’ll teach our clients whatever they want to learn about, whether it’s belaying or climbing techniques. We also offer rappelling, which is oftentimes just incorporated into the climbing experience.
CW: Where do you and your clients climb?
DD: A great location for beginners is Palisades Park. Sand Rock is another destination. People can find information about our climbing areas at peregrineclimbingguides.com/about/areas.php
CW: How many clients have you served so far?
DD: We’ve had just a couple day climbers so far. But we’re certainly excited to get more people vertical. This past week we worked with the Altamont school in Birmingham. Their “project week” offers their students a travel and service-learning experience. We took them hiking and climbing while they learned about the outdoor environment of Alabama.
CW: For a beginner, what would be a typical day with you and your guides?
DD: A client will contact us by finding our contact info on flyers around town, our website, or our Facebook page. Over the phone or via email, we’ll figure out a day they want to go climbing and sign them up. After getting their information, we’ll set a meeting place, which is usually somewhere near campus, or they can meet us at the cliff. If they choose to meet us in town, we’d travel together.
On the day of the climb, we’ll provide all of the necessary equipment for the experience. It’s usually a short hike up a trail, then I’ll sling up some ropes and we’ll start climbing. They’ll learn how to put on the harness, belay, rappel, and they can really work on anything that suits their needs and curiosity. Typically we’ll finish in the late afternoon and ride back to Tuscaloosa.
CW: Why do you love rock climbing?
DD: I think rock climbing offers the unique experience of challenging yourself mentally and physically all at once. Cliffs are learning environments where there are definite consequences, but you come to realize that can be safely managed. Personally, climbing encourages me to perform my best and discover my limits—that metaphor can be applied to a lot of things in life.
Once you learn to trust your rope, the sky is literally the limit.
