Client Preparation Guide

Mississippi Palisades – Twin Sisters Trailhead

Four Essential Tips

  1. arrive early

    Many clients get lost or confused on their first visit to Mississippi Palisades State Park.

  2. Plan for no phone service

    Cell service inside and near Mississippi Palisades State Park is weak to non-existent. Don’t count on it.

  3. Don’t trust your GPS

    If you enter “Mississippi Palisades” into a GPS device, you may not arrive at the right location. Use the attached map instead OR enter in the specific coordinates below.

  4. Read this document in its entirety

    The below information is really helpful and will help set you up for a successful experience with us.

    The Client Resources section is optional, but look over the headlines to see if anything catches your interest.

Logistics

RENDEZVOUS LOCATION

Meet us at the Twin Sisters Trailhead, near the south entrance to the park. Please refer to below map.

GPS is NOT a reliable method of finding the trailhead, as there are no formal addresses along the road. If you don’t have a road map and must use GPS, use these specific coordinates:

43.412366, -89.739835

 

MEETING TIME

We will meet at 7:30 AM, unless other arrangements have been made (check your confirmation email). Please be prompt. If you are unfamiliar with the area, please arrive early, as many first-time visitors become disoriented trying to find the meeting place.

If you are running late or lost, please call or text us ASAP because the closer you get to Mississippi Palisades, the less likely you will have phone reception.

PARKING

There is no fee for entrance or parking at Mississippi Palisades State Park.

BATHROOMS

Public restrooms are available just after entering the park, as well as at the trailhead.

Prepare for Success

Mind & Body

Sleep and eat well the night before, so you are well-rested and you have plenty of energy during our time together.

If you are have anxiety about your climbing day, reading What to Expect and Frequently Asked Questions may help you feel more informed.

If you climb in a gym, you might take a day or two off before our trip so your muscles are well-rested and strong. Otherwise, relax and get psyched to climb!

WHAT TO EXPECT

TRIPS: After intros and waivers in the parking lot, we ascend the bluffs (about 20 min.) to a great climbing area, where we will set up two or more climbing anchors. Once the ropes are set, we’ll descend to the cliff bottom to learn belaying skills (if needed) and start climbing. We’ll climb a variety of routes, discussing skills and technique along the way.

COURSES: After intros and waivers in the parking lot, we figure out what gear you have and supplement according to our needs. We hike in to a low-traffic climbing area (about 20 min.), make a base camp and begin our course work. Along the way, we ask questions to determine where your skills/knowledge are and how best to structure our time together. Expect a combination of demonstration, short lecture, and experiential learning, culminating in extended practice sessions where you implement new skills.

For more details information, read What to Expect on a Guided Climbing Day.

WHAT TO BRING

Comfortable, athletic clothes work best for climbing. These can be tight-fitting, stretchy garments like tights or Under Armor, or loose, nonrestrictive clothing like sweats or t-shirts. Please avoid jeans, which tend to be restrictive and uncomfortable for climbing. If you wear shorts, make sure they are at least mid-thigh length (min. 5” inseam) so the harness won’t chafe your legs. In addition to comfortable clothing, please bring:

  • A minimum of 1 liter of water per person; 2 liters/person is essential during hot summer days

  • More food and snacks than you think you’ll eat

  • Sunglasses and sunscreen

  • Sturdy and supportive close-toed shoes (not sandals or slip-ons)

  • One backpack per person to carry personal and group climbing gear

*** Unless you are really fit, bringing an ice-filled cooler is not a good idea. We will not return to the car for lunch and trails are steep to most climbing areas.

For more an illustrated guide, see our What to Bring Climbing.

Cancellations

While we are looking forward to climbing with you, we understand cancellations are sometimes necessary due to unplanned events. Please read our Cancellation Policies, should you need to cancel your event for any reason between now and your trip date.

We recommend purchasing trip insurance to avoid losing money in the event of an emergency or a change to your travel plans. Forbes has a great trip insurance search tool for finding the right option for your situation.

Client Resources

If you appreciate a detailed briefing, check out our hour-by-hour overview of what our typical climbing day looks like.

An illustrated guide to what to bring - and what not to bring - on your guided climbing day.

Have a questions about your climbing trip or course? Chances are we’ve heard it before! We regularly update and add to our clients’ most asked questions on our FAQ page. If you don’t find a good answer there, please email us.

Want to show up at the cliff with some lingo in your back pocket? Rock Climbing Terms for Beginners explains some of the climbing-specific language you might hear at the crag.

We provide all equipment you’ll need for your trip or course. However, if you’d like to purchase your own kit, you may order it in advance from our Client Store.

If you’d like to order a DLCG hat or t-shirt, please order it in advance from our store and we’ll bring it to your trip for you!