Get Your Climb On

4.9•344 ratings

San Francisco, CA, US

About us

# 🧗 Welcome to Get Yo Climb On (GYCO)!

Get Your Climb On (GYCO) was created by Michael Dorame back in December 2011 because he wanted to create a san francisco-based climbing community from the ground up that would welcome climbers from all walks of life at all levels. So his first year he took climbers indoor climbing all over San Francisco, then on weekends he took climbers to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Red Rocks, Las Vegas, El Potrero Chico, Mexico, Joshua Tree, Castle Rock Park in Saratoga, CA, St Helena, Truckee, Krabi / Tonsai, Thailand, and Yangshuo China. He built a commujity and grew it to over 5000+ people and then in April 2019 he got an opportunity to explore Alaska and took a sabbatical. A new organizer was named and they created a new name called Beta Breakers. And while it has all of Michael's legacy content and good vibes the new version grew in a new way. Then Michael returned to San Francisco in late 2019 and create a 2nd version with his GYCO brand. He grew it slowly and organically —this time as a smaller, more intentional space for adventurous souls from all walks of life to come together, climb, connect, and grow.

## 🌍 Who’s This For?

Everyone. Seriously. We welcome:

Newbies & seasoned crushers
LGBTQIA+ community
People of color
All gender expressions
Introverts, extroverts & hybrids
Persons with visible & invisible disabilities
Families (kids welcome w/ adult)
Veterans, at‑risk youth, misfits, and miracle‑makers
Anyone who’s found healing, meaning, or freedom through climbing

## 🧗 What Do We Climb?

Top Rope, Sport, Trad, Bouldering
Occasional Free Solo (under 30 ft, with caution)
Canyoneering, Alpine, and Mountaineering trips

We share gear, knowledge, and rides when we can. All we ask is honesty, curiosity, and community vibes.

## 🛡️ Safety First, Always

Climbing is thrilling but risky. We are not certified guides, so your safety is your responsibility. That said, we promote a safety‑first culture by:

Reviewing gear use (harnesses, belay devices, knots)
Helping newer climbers learn
Watching for wear & tear on gear
Encouraging belay tests & intro classes
Sharing resources & experience openly

By participating, you agree not to hold GYCO or its organizers responsible for injuries during or outside of meetups. We climb at our own risk — with each other, not for each other.

## 🎒 No Gear? No Problem.

Rent climbing/camping gear at:

REI’s Climbing Checklist
Sports Basement
Learn knots: Climbing Knots 101
Watch tips: Climbing Basics on YouTube

## 📊 Understanding Climbing Grades

Rope Climbing (Yosemite Decimal): 5.0 → 5.15
Bouldering (V‑Scale): V0 → V16 Start where you’re comfortable. Grow at your own pace.

## 🚗 Outdoor Carpools

Save gas, spots, and the planet. Set up carpools based on where you live — and maybe make a new friend.

## 📅 Meetup Etiquette

Cancel early (ideally 5–7 days in advance). Emergencies happen — just keep us in the loop.
No‑shows: 3 strikes = warning, 4 = potential removal. Respect the time, energy, and logistics it takes to make magic happen.

## 🌟 What We’re All About

We climb to grow. We climb to heal. We climb to connect.
Our goal? To create a safe, supportive, life‑enhancing climbing community where fun, transformation, and belonging go hand in chalked hand.
GYCO is a place where climbing might just save your life — because it saved ours.

## 📜 Policies

Respect all identities — no discrimination, harassment, or exclusion.
Do not litter, vandalize, steal, or damage belongings.
Unsafe or reckless behavior = immediate dismissal.
Turn on Meetup notifications so you don’t miss updates.

## 🎓 Training & Education

We partner with local adventure groups and experienced climbers to provide guidance in disciplines from anchor building to alpine climbing. Additional training or private guided trips may be available through trusted outdoor organizations.

## 💬 Closing Note

Climbing is more than a sport — it’s a community. Here, you’ll find encouragement, safety, and belonging. Whether you’re reaching your first foothold or topping out a challenging route, you’re part of our family.

Upcoming events

See all

Get Your Climb On @Mission Cliffs: Top Rope & Lead
Thu, Mar 5 · 7:00 PM PST
Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym, 2295 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA, US
Hey climbers!

Are you ready to get your climb on at Mission Cliffs?

Where?
Mission Cliffs
2295 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

What?
Our meetup crew initially does top rope climbing, but if you are open to learning to lead climbing we sometimes set up mock leading sessions which simulates what it's like to do lead climbing.

You can ask your meetup hosts about this so you can learn and practice before taking the lead test. This will give you the technical experience to lead your open rope to the top of a rope and if you do this outside you get to lead your own rope and set up a top rope for others to climb.

When?
Thursdays @ 7:00pm
People often show up anywhere from 6.30-8.00. We’ll grab a quick group photo around 7:45pm if you want to join.

Always feel free to get started climbing. If you are looking for the group, don't hesitate to ask in chat :)

What to Bring?
Climbing shoes, a harness, a belay device, water, etc.

Why?
- To make new friends
- Gain new SAFE climbing partners
- Develop as a climber
- Train for outdoors
- Have fun
Where do we meet?
Near the cubbies to the left of the front desk after you check in. Next to the exit door, before the slackline/ellipticals.

Your Hosts?
Shafie M and Josefine S. If you cannot locate the hosts or group feel free to call or text our hosts Shafie at (669) 204-3394 or Josefine at 650-720-2588

First time?/Cost/Belay Test
- First time at a touchstone gym? Sign a waiver - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/waiver/
- Belay test? Go to the front desk staff to take a test after you have had some basic practice OR
- Take a climbing class through any touchstone gym but for the Mission Cliffs gym here is a class link: https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/first-timers/
Costs:
- Touchstone Membership (works across Mission Cliffs, PacPipe, Dogpatch, and others) - free
- Day pass - $30 - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/pricing/
- Day Pass for those that receive Medicare, medicare, SSi $10 - by showing the state Id card.
Photos/Videos Disclaimer:
- Organizers or the event hosts may be taking some photos/videos casually for fun! RSVP to this event means you are agreeing to this, and if you are not comfortable in any way, feel free to text/whatsapp Shafie at 669 204-3394. We always want you to have fun and be as comfortable as possible!
1 attendee
Get Your Climb On @Mission Cliffs: Top Rope & Lead
Thu, Mar 12 · 7:00 PM PDT
Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym, 2295 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA, US
Hey climbers!

Are you ready to get your climb on at Mission Cliffs?

Where?
Mission Cliffs
2295 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

What?
Our meetup crew initially does top rope climbing, but if you are open to learning to lead climbing we sometimes set up mock leading sessions which simulates what it's like to do lead climbing.

You can ask your meetup hosts about this so you can learn and practice before taking the lead test. This will give you the technical experience to lead your open rope to the top of a rope and if you do this outside you get to lead your own rope and set up a top rope for others to climb.

When?
Thursdays @ 7:00pm
People often show up anywhere from 6.30-8.00. We’ll grab a quick group photo around 7:45pm if you want to join.

Always feel free to get started climbing. If you are looking for the group, don't hesitate to ask in chat :)

What to Bring?
Climbing shoes, a harness, a belay device, water, etc.

Why?
- To make new friends
- Gain new SAFE climbing partners
- Develop as a climber
- Train for outdoors
- Have fun
Where do we meet?
Near the cubbies to the left of the front desk after you check in. Next to the exit door, before the slackline/ellipticals.

Your Hosts?
Shafie M and Josefine S. If you cannot locate the hosts or group feel free to call or text our hosts Shafie at (669) 204-3394 or Josefine at 650-720-2588

First time?/Cost/Belay Test
- First time at a touchstone gym? Sign a waiver - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/waiver/
- Belay test? Go to the front desk staff to take a test after you have had some basic practice OR
- Take a climbing class through any touchstone gym but for the Mission Cliffs gym here is a class link: https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/first-timers/
Costs:
- Touchstone Membership (works across Mission Cliffs, PacPipe, Dogpatch, and others) - free
- Day pass - $30 - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/pricing/
- Day Pass for those that receive Medicare, medicare, SSi $10 - by showing the state Id card.
Photos/Videos Disclaimer:
- Organizers or the event hosts may be taking some photos/videos casually for fun! RSVP to this event means you are agreeing to this, and if you are not comfortable in any way, feel free to text/whatsapp Shafie at 669 204-3394. We always want you to have fun and be as comfortable as possible!
2 attendees
Get Your Climb On @Mission Cliffs: Top Rope & Lead
Thu, Mar 19 · 7:00 PM PDT
Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym, 2295 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA, US
Hey climbers!

Are you ready to get your climb on at Mission Cliffs?

Where?
Mission Cliffs
2295 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

What?
Our meetup crew initially does top rope climbing, but if you are open to learning to lead climbing we sometimes set up mock leading sessions which simulates what it's like to do lead climbing.

You can ask your meetup hosts about this so you can learn and practice before taking the lead test. This will give you the technical experience to lead your open rope to the top of a rope and if you do this outside you get to lead your own rope and set up a top rope for others to climb.

When?
Thursdays @ 7:00pm
People often show up anywhere from 6.30-8.00. We’ll grab a quick group photo around 7:45pm if you want to join.

Always feel free to get started climbing. If you are looking for the group, don't hesitate to ask in chat :)

What to Bring?
Climbing shoes, a harness, a belay device, water, etc.

Why?
- To make new friends
- Gain new SAFE climbing partners
- Develop as a climber
- Train for outdoors
- Have fun
Where do we meet?
Near the cubbies to the left of the front desk after you check in. Next to the exit door, before the slackline/ellipticals.

Your Hosts?
Shafie M and Josefine S. If you cannot locate the hosts or group feel free to call or text our hosts Shafie at (669) 204-3394 or Josefine at 650-720-2588

First time?/Cost/Belay Test
- First time at a touchstone gym? Sign a waiver - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/waiver/
- Belay test? Go to the front desk staff to take a test after you have had some basic practice OR
- Take a climbing class through any touchstone gym but for the Mission Cliffs gym here is a class link: https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/first-timers/
Costs:
- Touchstone Membership (works across Mission Cliffs, PacPipe, Dogpatch, and others) - free
- Day pass - $30 - https://touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/pricing/
- Day Pass for those that receive Medicare, medicare, SSi $10 - by showing the state Id card.
Photos/Videos Disclaimer:
- Organizers or the event hosts may be taking some photos/videos casually for fun! RSVP to this event means you are agreeing to this, and if you are not comfortable in any way, feel free to text/whatsapp Shafie at 669 204-3394. We always want you to have fun and be as comfortable as possible!
2 attendees
7 seats left
St. Helena Near side - sport climbing
Sat, Mar 21 · 8:00 AM PDT
Location not specified yet
Let's get our climb on at St. Helena on an area called nearside an awesome sport climbing area for all levels

If you’re craving a mellow day on real rock with good people, we’re heading out to the Near Side at St. Helena — the sunny, friendly wall just a short walk from the main trail. It’s got that classic Napa volcanic texture, plenty of moderates, and a super laid‑back vibe that makes it perfect for a casual session.

Communications / coordination
we will coordinate this trip through a WhatsApp chat I set up called St. Helena near side so text me at 415-401-5809 so I can add to and let me know your name ;)

🌄 What’s the plan?
We’ll meet up in the morning about to pull out near Robert Stevenson Park sign, we will do intros and go over gear that people have and wander up the trail, and post up at the Near Side. Expect a mix of fun vertical routes, great warm‑ups, and a few spicier lines if you’re feeling it. Nothing too serious — just a day of climbing, hanging out, and soaking up the good energy.

What to bring

Harness, shoes, belay device

Helmet (recommended)

Water + snacks

Layers — the Near Side can shift from warm to breezy

A chill attitude

📍 About the Near Side
The Near Side sits just across from the Far Side and offers shorter approaches, solid rock, and a nice spread of grades. It’s a great spot to get mileage, try something new, or just enjoy a relaxed day on real stone.

here's a list of the routes:
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/120888822/near-side

🚗 Carpooling
If you need a ride or can offer one, drop a note in the chat. We’ll sort it out.

✨ Why join?
Because climbing outside with good people is one of the best ways to spend a day. No pressure, no expectations — just movement, sunshine, and community.

Come hang, climb, and enjoy the Near Side with us. And then I'll make the recommendation that we go out to eat somewhere locally because they have amazing food between a Italian or Mexican or Indian Or even a brew house with American cuisine.
5 attendees