When was the last time you did something that got your adrenaline pumping?
It may have been a while since you’ve last stepped outside your comfort zone and tried something new, but it’s never too late to switch it up.
Rock climbing is growing in popularity in Sonoma County. Not only is it a great workout for your mind and body, but there’s an incredible sense of community and togetherness in the climbing world.
Thanks to local entrepreneur and climber Kevin Jorgeson (if you haven’t seen him featured in the 2017 documentary, The Dawn Wall, we strongly recommend checking it out), climbing enthusiasts in Sonoma County now have a state-of-the-art climbing gym to enjoy.
Session Climbing serves as a local hub for the climbing, yoga, and fitness community—from kids to experienced climbers, families, and adult newbies.
To learn more about the growth of climbing in Sonoma County, what makes the sport so incredible, and how you can get involved, we spoke with Betsy Bradbury, General Manager, and Sarah Cleveland, Youth Programming Coordinator and Competitive Coach at Session Climbing, and Kevin Jorgeson, Founder of Session Climbing.
Betsy: I’m Betsy, and I’m the General Manager at Session Climbing. I started climbing over 20 years ago in Santa Rosa. Soon after, I ended up falling in love with Alaska, so I started splitting my time between there and the Bay Area. I started a guide service there and ran that business for the last 15 years before joining Session Climbing back in January of 2024.
I’ve been lucky to be on some amazing group climbing trips in places like Joshua Tree and Red Rocks, where everyone came together, bonded, and shared a transformational experience.
Sarah: My name is Sarah, and I’m the Youth Program Coordinator and one of the competitive coaches at Session Climbing. I’ve worked in the climbing industry for about five years and have been climbing for more than fifteen.
I love the outdoors and being outside as much as possible. I love both the physical and mental aspects of climbing. It’s taught me to become more confident in my abilities and to set bigger goals for myself.
Betsy: One of the great things about climbing is that it can be whatever you want it to be. You can be competitive or you can do it recreationally—for exercise, community, or a personal challenge.
Climbing is ultimately about being competitive with yourself, but you can also choose to join a competitive team.
On any given day, you can push yourself really hard, or you can treat the climb as a meditative experience where you climb something a bit easier and just get in the flow.
I think that most people in the climbing community would say that when you’re on a climb, your mind quiets down and everything else goes away. You’re incorporating your entire body, and it’s a great workout.
When you finish the climb, you won’t even remember what was on your mind going into it. It’s such a gift.
Sarah: Another reason people might be drawn to climbing is that sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like you’re working out. So, if you’re somebody who doesn’t like a traditional gym, it’s a great alternative to fully connect your mind and body.
Kevin: Every person was a kid once and has climbed trees, cupboards, and fences. Climbing is as natural a movement as walking or running. We’re all climbers at heart. You might be surprised how familiar it feels when you get on the wall—even if it’s your first time.
Betsy: I think climbing has gained popularity across the United States and around the world because it’s such a healthy sport with a great community.
Locally, I give a lot of kudos to Kevin.
He climbed the Dawn Wall with Tommy Caldwell back in 2015.
Their journey was showcased in an award-winning documentary of the same name back in 2017, which really helped bring the world’s attention to climbing.
Kevin has done a lot for the community in Santa Rosa and filled that gap for a climbing gym.
He designed Session to be very community-oriented with lounge spaces and eclectic common areas.
Another reason climbing has become so popular is that it’s a fairly easy sport on the body. You can climb from a young age up into a very old age.
That’s rare – a lot of sports are hard to enjoy once you’re out of your youth. The community is growing at all of these age groups.
Sarah: I would add to that by saying that climbing used to be an obscure hobby to have, but since films like The Dawn Wall have come out, people are discovering what climbing is.
So many more kids are getting involved who haven’t enjoyed the traditional team ball sports, but find they love the solo nature of getting on the wall and climbing.
Kevin: When you’re in a climbing gym, you’re surrounded by people who are in a mode of play, connection, and vulnerability. We’re trying hard, we’re failing, we’re getting up and trying again—and that breaks down social barriers in a really beautiful way.
Betsy: There are mixed reviews of Sonoma County climbing, but I personally love it.
One piece of feedback I’ve heard is that Sonoma County doesn’t have “world-class climbing” locally.
I don’t think that’s true, though. We’re within a day’s drive of some of the best climbing spots in the world—Tahoe, Yosemite, and Joshua Tree. There are so many options. You don’t have to travel across the country, you can just hop in your car.
More locally, we actually do have quite a few crags out towards the coast. For those not brushed up on climbing lingo, crags are rock climbing areas.
We also have a lot of passionate folks creating guidebooks for climbs at local crags. There are tons of resources for local climbing, and there are very few crowds, which is nice.
Betsy: There are a few elements that go into a good climbing spot.
For one, a great climbing spot ideally has great features and a nice approach with beautiful views.
You’ll also want to find a crag with good quality rock. You don’t want the rock to break off in your hands when you’re climbing.
Climbs with variety in their difficulty level help keep things interesting. Also, choosing a climb that lets you get creative with how you tackle it makes it even more fun.
We incorporate all of these factors into our climbing walls at Session.
Sarah: A great way to get over hurdles as a beginner is to just try it all.
I mostly work with youth, but I also get to see a lot of adult newcomers. What’s been interesting for me to see is that kids & adults excel in different areas.
For some kids, being hooked up to the rope system can make them nervous. For other kids, they get nervous about reaching a certain height during bouldering.
They all have different comfort zones, but what’s cool is that you get to see children discover what fits best for them and where they thrive, and you also get to see them build confidence in their abilities to make decisions and push their limits.
For adults, we offer an Intro to Bouldering Class, which is a great option to help you start working through your fears.
You’ll learn the basic movements and how to fall safely. We also have an Intro to Rope class, so you can try out the ropes. Usually, people will develop a preference after they have the opportunity to try both.
Getting into the gym and just getting time on the wall is the most important thing when learning to climb. The key is to be patient and let your strength develop.
It’s also important to adopt a growth mindset. There can be a lot of humbling moments when climbing.
Instead of looking at success as making it up the wall in one go, it’s more about the little successes along the way. Think about success as pushing yourself a little bit beyond your comfort zone each time.
Celebrate the little wins and focus on the process.
Betsy: Shifting your perspective around fear is also helpful when learning to climb—and in life in general.
There are great metaphors in climbing. So many of us have a fear of heights and falling, and a fear of failure. One of the amazing things about climbing is that you do get scared and you do fall. You fall every time. It’s part of the deal. As soon as you fall, you realize it’s not that bad. It pushes you to be better.
Betsy: Climbing isn’t risk-free—it’s important to think about how to mitigate risk. Make sure the gym you’re going to is part of the American Safe Climbing Association and has ongoing conversations around policy and frequent sessions to educate the community and staff on risk management.
In the beginning of your climbing journey, attending classes is also important. They give you the foundation and knowledge of what you need to do to mitigate risk. They teach you how to use the systems and your body correctly.
Not only that, but classes also make your experience more fun.
If you’re learning climbing for the first time without a foundation, it can be hard. Having someone to teach you the little tricks, like foot positioning so you can actually get up, makes the experience that much more fun when you’re getting started.
If you do branch out and go climbing outside, make sure you go with people who know the area and the gear well.
The local climbing community in Sonoma County is so strong. There are people who love to take out beginner climbers and share their knowledge.
Sarah: Also, check out the Mountain Project app. It’s free. You can download your state, and it’ll show you what style of climbing there is, the difficulties of the routes, and things like that.
Another option is to hire a guide.
Session can connect you with guides you can hire to take you on these climbs. Some of them even helped establish the climbing routes you might tackle. They can do a lot of the knowledge-based steps, like setting up ropes, if you’re not comfortable with that yet.
Betsy: If you’re interested in joining our climbing community at Session, visit us online to learn more about what to expect. Also, check out our events page to see what community-based events are coming up soon. We also have a newsletter you can subscribe to if you want to stay up to speed with everything going on at the gym and in the local climbing community.
But most importantly, just come in! It’s hard to grasp what an incredible gym it is until you are standing in it and looking up at the walls. Our front desk staff is awesome and will welcome you in and show you the ropes.
Kevin: We built Session around the notion of time well spent. You come through those doors and leave feeling a little lighter, a little happier, and a little more connected. That’s our North Star.
If you’re interested in living in a sustainable community that fuses the best of city living with the country lifestyle and all the amazing things that Sonoma County has to offer, we invite you to visit SOMO Village. To learn more, download our residential project brief or get in touch with us today.