Idaho Outfitters Certify Rock Climber

Craig Mearns is probing a niche between the horsepackers and the river rafters where few North Idaho outfitters have ventured.

In June, Mearns’ Granite’s Edge Climbing School became the only professional rock and ice climbing business in North Idaho that’s certified with the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association.

“You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get licensed through the Idaho Outfitters, but it’s worth the effort,” said Mearns.

He had to be insured, bonded, and his credentials had to be evaluated and approved. “This assures clients that we’re not a fly-by-night operation,” he said, noting that he worked for nearly a year to get licensed.

At 23, the former West Virginian said he’s been climbing for 15 years and guiding for six.

“I came west last year on a whim to check out Idaho and saw beautiful places with a lot of opportunity for climbing,” he said. “That’s when I learned that nobody was professionally licensed to guide and teach rock climbing. The guiding that was going on up here was all under the table.”

The school works on a one-to-one basis or with small groups. Students learn the ropes of basic climbing or they can brush up on the more advanced skills of lead climbing and ice tactics.

The guide service includes half-day and full-day climbs in North Idaho and Western Montana.

Most of the teaching is done at Q’emiln City Park in Post Falls and at rocks near Sandpoint at Schweitzer Ski Area.

While rock climbing can be as safe as any other backcountry sport, learning the fundamentals is essential.

“It scares me to see kids with just a little experience heading on their own to the rocks,” he said.

“Some of them learn a little bit indoors. But when they come outdoors, there are thousands of tiny variables they’ve never been exposed to.”

So far, news of Mearns’ business has spreading mostly by word of mouth. “I’m hearing from just as many women as men,” he said. “Mostly from working people. I’m not getting as much response from students as I did when I was teaching back East.

“Most of the interest so far is from people who have heard about climbing but haven’t been exposed to it. They’re curious. They want to give it a shot.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo