CLINICS
Flash Foxy Trad Fest • MAMMOTH LAKES • Sept 12-14, 2025
presented by Patagonia with support from Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Schedule is always subject to change. All programs run rain-or-shine. No refunds.
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All clinics are 6 hrs and have a maximum of 12 participants.
Clinics are reserved for registered festival participants. Clinic registration link will be sent via Eventbrite on August 15th. Early bird clinic registration will open August 14th.
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There is a $95 per day registration fee for all clinics.
Registration link will be sent directly to all festival participants via Eventbrite.
Clinic registration opens August 15! Early Bird clinic registration opens August 14.
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All location listings are tentative and subject to change day-of. If you have an accessibility concern related to venue locations please email events@flashfoxy.com after registering for your clinic and we will work with you to see if the clinic can be held at a venue that meets your accessibility needs. If we are unable to accommodate your needs we will gladly refund the clinic registration fee.
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Climbing gear is provided for all clinics. There will be climbing harness, shoe and helmet demos available. If you have any gear that you would like to ask questions about/practice with at your clinic, feel free to bring it!
All Clinics will be run in partnership with Fith Class Guides.
CLINIC SCHEDULE
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Intro to Trad Climbing with Gerry Egbalic - presented by Flash Foxy Education
Falling on Gear with Lor Sabourin - presented by Patagonia
Multipitch Magic with Kate Kelleghan - presented by Ocun
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Follower’s Flow with Marian Perez - presented by Flash Foxy Education
Projecting Tactics for Trad with Amity Warme - presented by Arc’teryx
Saturday Clinic 9/13
with Gerry Egbalic (he/they) presented by Flash Foxy Education
Climber Requirements: Must know how to lead belay.
This course equips climbers with the skills they need to explore the adventurous practice and spirit of traditional climbing whether you're new to the craft or trying to refine the skills you already have. We’ll cover the essentials like learning how to place stoppers and cams, and we’ll also have candid conversations about risk and how to manage it when the variables start to add up. Our instructors will provide low-risk environments for practice and review the skills you need to continue your practice after the course. Plus tips on how to go live when you’re ready!
Intro to Trad
Saturday Clinic 9/13
with Lor Sabourin (they/them) presented by Patagonia
Climber Requirements: Must be able to comfortably top rope 5.9. Must know how to lead belay. Some experience placing trad gear (such as an Intro to Trad clinic) or leading trad is required.
This training addresses falling directly to help improve commitment. We do progressive falling practice followed by movement, breathing, resting, and body/mind awareness exercises. Students leave understanding how to take appropriate risks and how to commit to those risks. Students will practice the following skills during this course: fall properly, give a dynamic (cushioned) belay, break a climb into smaller risk events, assess risk effectively, distinguish between no- and yes-fall zones, engage no- and yes-fall zones appropriately, make appropriate risk decisions, improve body/mind awareness, rest effectively, improve breathing, create flow and momentum, deal with climbing stress, commit more deliberately, reduce fear, and more!
Falling!! on Gear
Saturday Clinic 9/13
with Kate Kelleghan (she/her) presented by Ocun
Climber Requirements: Must know how to belay someone lead-climbing. Single-pitch trad climbing experience, as a leader or follower, is highly recommended.
Have you started climbing multipitch routes, but aren't sure how to speed up and accomplish bigger objectives? Tired of hiking out in the dark? Join us for a jam packed clinic designed to clean up your systems, speed up your transitions, and cut out unnecessary steps, while maximizing security and minimizing risk. We'll discuss route planning, different strategies based on team composition and objectives, and spend a lot of time practicing new skills for the way up, as well as rappelling down. Bring your climbing partner, so you can dial in your systems together!
Multipitch Magic
Sunday Clinic 9/14
with Marian Perez (they/them) presented by Flash Foxy
Climber Requirements: Must know how to belay on top rope. Some experience top-roping indoors or outdoors is required.
This clinic is for climbers who want to be supportive belayers and competent followers on trad climbs. We’ll talk about strategies for removing gear, re-racking, and giving a good catch. Learn to evaluate risk and ask informed questions about the terrain and style of climbing you are participating in. Just because you’re not leading the climb doesn’t mean you’re not a huge part of the team!
Follower’s Flow
with Amity Warme (she/her) presented by Arc’teryx
Climber Requirements: Must be able to comfortably top rope 5.10 outdoors (5.12 indoors). Must know how to lead belay. Some experience placing trad gear (such as an Intro to Trad clinic) or leading trad is required.
Projects are climbs that are typically above your average skill level or a different style from what you’re used to and take multiple sessions to send. Whether short term or long term they all require focus, patience, and planning. In this clinic, we will address both the mental and physical challenges that come along with projecting traditional climbs. Participants will learn how to pick a project; how to warm up for trying at your limit; how to break the route down into checkpoints and smaller pieces; tactics for beta learning and memorization; and how to rest between and during redpoint attempts. Each participant will pick a project for the day and have the opportunity to practice physical and mental skills and tactics for pushing your limits.
Projecting Tactics for Trad
Sunday Clinic 9/14
Climbing Areas
The Eastside offers plentiful options for trad climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering year-round! Here are a few crag ideas to get you started - all located within a 1-hour drive from our festival venue. Remember, all climbers are responsible for managing their own risk. Trail conditions may vary and Flash Foxy cannot guarantee accessibility of any climbing areas. Please read all parking and land use regulations carefully. Participants are responsible for paying day use fees and obtaining any necessary climbing permits.
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Google Maps: Lake George Parking *16-minute drive from our festival venue!
The Lake George Recreation Area trailhead gives access to some of the best climbing in the Lakes Basin. Dike Wall and Horseshoe Piles have a great collection of single pitch sport climbs in the 5.8-5.12 range while Crystal Crag has climbs ranging from short sport routes to multi-pitch alpine excursions. In addition there are a number of newer sport areas that will keep you busy for some time.
Distance + Directions: From the town of Mammoth Lakes head south west along Lake Mary Road. As the road winds up into the lakes basin look for a left turn at Pokonobe Marina. Follow this left turn through a campground and over a bridge. After crossing the bridge take a right and continue to the trailhead parking.
Approach + Trail Surface: mild-moderate uphill on packed dirt/sand/gravel mix
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Google Maps: Horseshoe Lake Parking *20-minute drive from our festival venue!
This quiet alpine lake setting above the town of Mammoth features sport and trad climbing at 10,300 feet in elevation. Plenty of climbs from 5.8 - 5.12, with top access anchors. This point is visible from many places around Mammoth.
Distance + Directions: 25 minute drive from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center. Take highway 203 towards Lake Mary. Follow the road (past the Lake Mary turnoff) to a large parking area at the end near Horseshoe Lake.
Approach + Trail Surface: ~40-60 minutes of hiking. Terrain can be steep and technical over talus, boulders, and packed dirt/sand/gravel mix.
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Google Maps: Rock Creek *25-minute drive from our festival venue!
Rock Creek features sport climbing, trad climbing, and bouldering on incredible Sierra granite at around 7,500 feet in elevation.
Distance + Directions: 20 minute drive from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center. Take the 395 South from Mammoth Lakes to Tom’s Place. Take this road south into the canyon and the formations will appear on the west side of the canyon.
Approach + Trail Surface: moderate-steep uphill 0.2-1.5 miles on trails and talus.Trails between climbing areas are on mixed terrain including talus, boulders, packed sand and soft sand.
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Google Maps: Tioga Road Parking *35-minute drive from our festival venue!
This area is situated at the northern end of the Sierra Eastside, and is unique in its nature given that it has some of the most easily accessible sport, trad, bouldering, and ice climbing on cliffs that are more often than not empty. Perhaps climbers are too eager to get to the better known climbs in Tuolumne Meadows, but make no mistake the climbing to be found west from Lee Vining along the Tioga Pass is worth a visit or two.
Distance + Directions: From the US 395 take the CA120 west toward Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park to reach all the climbing. All the areas are located in a 10 mille stretch West of the 395/120 junction.
Approach + Trail Surface: moderate-steep talus downhill to crag. Some areas require a rappel to approach.
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Google Maps: Pine Creek Canyon *45-minute drive from our festival venue!
Pine Creek lies in a stunningly scenic granite canyon nestled between Mount Tom & the Wheeler Crest. This once backwater area has now grown into a truly world class destination. Pine Creek now features over 630 routes including long multi-pitch affairs, plentiful traditional climbs, and one of the largest collections of sport climbs in the state!
Distance + Directions: Take Hwy. 395 North from Bishop to Pine Creek Road. Turn left onto Pine Creek Road. Continue through the town of Rovana and several switchbacks until you see Sheelite Canyon (the obvious deep canyon) on your right. Just across from the Campground, take a dirt road and park in one of two parking areas. Walk up the road and into the canyon.
Approach + Trail Surface: Approaches vary in length. Roadside climbing is available. Trails include narrow, sandy approaches, talus fields, and creek crossings.
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Google Maps: Sherwin Plateau*35-minute drive from our festival venue!
Sherwin Plateau offers a selection of isolated bouldering venues overlooking the gorge. You’ll find pocketed volcanic tuff on good quality rock reminiscent of the Happy Boulders at about 7,000 feet in elevation.
Distance + Directions: 25 minute drive from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center. Take the 395 South from Mammoth Lakes to Tom’s Place. Turn left onto Owens Gorge road and continue for 1.5 miles and take a right at the three-way fork. Keep left on the next two forks until merging with Forest RD 4S116. Continue for a mile and park.
Approach + Trail Surface: Approaches vary, but everything is close. Expect mixed terrain including talus, boulders, packed sand and soft sand.
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Google Maps: Casa Diablo Mountain *45-minutes from our festival venue!
Casa Diablo Mountain offers sport climbing and bouldering on quartz monzonite granite with views of the White Mountains, Glass Mountains, and Sierra Nevada Mountains at 7,400 feet. This area features many moderate rock climbs ranging from 5.6-5.12. Half of the climbs are north facing, while the other half are south facing, which makes for a great choice on both warmer and cooler days.
Distance + Directions: 45 minute drive from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center. Take the 395 south for 5.5 miles before making a left on Benton Crossing road. Drive 18 miles and turn right on a dirt road (3S02). Keep left at the first T (still 3S02) and stay right at the second T (still 3S02), for a total of 5.4 miles. Turn left between two trees on Forest Road 04S132C. Continue on a washboard road, make a left onto 04S132F and park in a small rounded parking area. A few climbs are visible from the parking zone.
Approach + Trail Surface: short approach! A few minutes of hiking over boulders, and packed dirt/sand/gravel mix.
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Google Maps: Yosemite National Park *1-hour drive from our festival venue!
Tuolumne Meadows is the high country climbing area of Yosemite National Park. The region is highlighted by many beautiful granite domes which offer the ultimate in knob and slab climbing. There are also classic non-dome formations like Cathedral Peak (first ascent by John Muir in the 1800's) and the Matthes Crest which are very popular with climbers. Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful, serene place without many of the tourist popularity issues plaguing Yosemite Valley these days.
Distance + Directions: Tuolumne Meadows is accessed via highway 120 via Tioga Pass from the east.
Approach + Trail Surface: Approaches vary in length. Roadside climbing is available. Trails include steep dirt trails, scrambling, creek crossings, and talus fields.