Max is an excellent instructor - he has good conceptual frameworks for climbing safety, but he also knows how to explain the gray areas at the edges of the textbook knowledge. You will cover a staggering amount of ground in the one day anchors and rescue workshop, with plenty of time for hands on drills and feedback. Highly recommended, there's a reason that (at the time of this writing) 100% of the reviews are 5 stars. read more

I took the Level I Anchor and Rescue Skills workshop this weekend. Max is an awesome instructor! I had some experience building climbing anchors in the past, but it was entirely based on what I thought were best practices, with little understanding of the science or principles behind it. Max starts from first principles, with instruction about the forces that occur on an anchor during a fall. You learn about why kN ratings on gear are important, and how the correct / incorrect use of gear can make a huge difference on the strength of the anchor. This isn't a course about memorizing how to build a set of anchors, but instead teaches you how to assess the overall attributes of any given anchor (e.g. how much force can it safely handle? how redundant is it?) From those principles, it makes it much easier to confidently build a safe anchor. Planning on coming back for more courses. read more

I took the Level 1 Anchors and Rescue Class this past weekend and am very impressed! Max is an excellent teacher - the perfect mix of knowledgable and accessible. He made sure to address every question, even if it was a little off topic or outside of the scope of this specific class. He also did a great job of breaking down serious subjects around climbing safety and gear strength (aka math & physics) while still keeping it interesting and fun for the whole group. It was a packed day, but the flow was obviously well thought through and expertly managed. Each skill we learned was a stepping stone into the next skill or application. I walked away impressed, more confident and eager to learn more. I will definitely take another class and highly recommend Saano to any climber looking to make the jump from gym to outdoor. read more

I took Saano's Anchor Building workshop with Max in Aug 2016 and am so happy I did! The course was extremely helpful to learn the essential knot tying and anchor building skills necessary to stay safe while climbing. It was a great balance of technical instruction and hands-on practice. I learned how to execute these skills and even more importantly WHY we do them. I feel prepared to assess my surroundings and make good decisions instead of simply memorizing steps. In the short month since the class I have gotten to practice my new skills building trad anchors in multi-pitch climbs at Lovers Leap and Yosemite (Einhorn's Pinnacle...seriously, go google how cool that looks). Feedback from my experienced climbing friends confirm I was taught well! I highly recommend Saano's clinics to develop your technical climbing skills! read more

Saano Adventures - Trusting my anchor building skills in Yosemite! - Hiking Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best intro to climbing course you could ask for. I have been climbing outside for about 5 years now and have been looking for programs to increase my skill and efficiency in my climbing anchors. I found this course to be a perfect balance of climbing education and hands on experience. The instructor was super knowledgeable and through in the class. I would highly recommend this course to beginners and more experienced climbers. I look forward to taking the next course. read more

Took the anchor building and rescue course with Max and couldn't be more happy with the instruction. Max is the man. He is knowledgeable and patient, and wants to make sure every climber leaves with the knowledge and skills necessary to build anchors in a safe and effective manner. He even stayed with our group an extra 3 hours after the class was supposed to be over in order to make sure we were comfortable and confident with everything we learned. The best part is that he doesn't just teach the HOW, but starts with the WHY. Understanding the background and theory means that you're not just replicating what you learned, but you can approach each unique situation with a level of safety and confidence you wouldn't have otherwise. I definitely plan on taking another class with SAANO. I can't speak highly enough of Max's knowledge and teaching ability. read more

Max is an *extraordinary* teacher. He is able to anticipate every climbing scenario imaginable, and every question that might possibly come up during class. Every time anyone raised their hand with a question (which wasn't very often), he was able to point to the answer he had already provided in his (very thorough) handout. Usually, it was something he had already covered verbally, or was next on the list; he didn't miss a beat! His attention to detail was impressive, and he covered the material effortlessly, in logical order. His delivery is calm, methodical, and crystal clear. Another part of what makes Max such an effective teacher, is his ability to read not just situations, but *people*. A lot of times, instructors can get so in-the-zone teaching technical stuff, that they lose sight of behavioral cues from their students...signs of stress, discomfort, or confusion. Many instructors might fail to catch what's happening on the periphery. Not Max. While he gave everyone breathing room, and time to figure out how things work on their own...at the first hint that he was truly needed, he was all over it. He knew exactly when to hang back, when to step in, and when to take over, and exercised unwavering patience in some pretty tense moments. His passion for his craft is boundless, and it spilled over into every moment of our class. Everyone in attendance had an absolute blast! It was cold, and gloomy. The ground was covered with glass and ants. A random dog literally walked up to our class and peed on a branch during a demonstration. Max managed to roll with the punches, and keep the psych high. Book a class or private climbing adventure with Max. Bring all your friends. Rinse. Repeat. I've been in the (indoor) climbing industry for about ten years, and I'd argue that even other outdoor guides would benefit from working with Max. He is a WEALTH of knowledge, and total safety guy. He uses best practices only, and I hope you won't let yourself, or your friends, settle for anything less. read more

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Max is a phenomenal instructor on every level and all around great guy. He's incredibly knowledgeable and is a patient and skillful teacher (those two traits often do not go together!). I have taken all four of his day long trad workshops in preparation for getting more serious about outdoor trad climbing and feel that I got an incredibly thorough foundation of knowledge. I went out to practice single pitch with a very experienced friend and he observed that my placements were bomber and were the best he'd ever seen from a beginner trad climber. I can't recommend Max highly enough! The info in these classes could save your life out there. Zach read more

I took the anchors and rescue level 1 class and it was really fun and useful. Max is a great teacher! He can explain everything and answer all questions in very clear and detailed manner. I really enjoyed the little bits of math and physics background in addition to the knots and gear knowledge. The course is packed, I learned an enormous amount of knowledge in one day. My brain was fried at the end of it, but in a good way! read more

I took the Anchors and Rescue class with Max today at Cragmont Park in Berkeley. He is a great teacher and made sure every student understood each concept in theory AND practice before we moved on to the next lesson. He is extremely safety conscious and patient. Additionally, I felt that even though I may forget how to tie some of the knots we learned (due to my own forgetfulness) he really hammered home one concept that I will never forget -- how to identify a dangerous anchor setup. I feel much more confident about setting up anchors and other gear after taking this class and I will probably take his advanced rescue class when he offers it. I am a poor student so I'm careful about spending money, especially anything $100 more more, but this class was worth every penny, especially since it will help me avoid climbing situations that could endanger my life. read more

I only write reviews when I have strong opinions about something, and this is a prime example. I took the Anchors and Rescue course in Berkeley and Max was one of the best teachers I've ever had (and I've been in school for 21 years and counting)! He was very thorough and attentive to every student. Even though I've been climbing casually for 3 years, I learned so much in this class and it really filled in the gaps in my knowledge. I now feel totally confident setting up anchors on my own without having to rely on other people. Although the course is very accommodating for complete beginners, I feel you have the most to gain if you've had some experience climbing outdoors. Tip: the class may take longer than scheduled, so don't make plans for right after. Some people might find it annoying that it doesn't end on time, but to me it shows Max's commitment to teaching us. Our class asked a ton of questions, and he was so great and patient about answering all of them. You can't rush safety! read more

I've hiked with Max quite a few times - from day hikes to multi-day in the Colorado Rockies, through Iceland as well as in the Bay Area. Max is very professional, knows how to work with people and encourage/ assist where needed, tell jokes, and just keep the energy and fun levels HIGH! He is also an excellent backcountry cook - a skills that's highly appreciated after a tiring day outside! You are in the hands of someone that's a seasoned professional with all the skills to keep you safe in the wilderness hiking, or climbing - and I will HIGHLY recommend any trip he offers through his company SAANO! read more

I 100% agree with the review below by Shandra. I've been climbing for about 5 years and in spending two days learning from Max I really filled in the gaps and learned rapelling, anchor building, etc the proper/most efficient way and now understand why things work/don't work. Max was patient and able to teach to everyone's learning style. He was the perfect amount of letting us figure things out on our own and stepping in to help when we were frustrated. His teaching was very technical and safety oriented but came off in a stress free and chill manner that made long days of learning fun and relaxed with the perfect mix of instruction and activity. You can tell how passionate he is through his willingness to stay late to cover the material and answering all my extra questions enthusiastically (thanks Max!). I think every level of climbing could benefit from a class with Max. I drove in from Vegas and it was totally worth it and more! read more

Max is a great teacher. The anchor course is jam packed full of useful information. Max manages to keep the class super fun and provide tons of info. He took time to answer every question in a thoughtful way. The order the information in the course was presented felt very thoughtful. By the end of the day, everything you learn comes together and it really made me feel like I jumped a level in my anchor building ability. read more

Max at Saano built a custom anchor at the top of a big rock face in my back yard (I live on a steep lot in San Francisco) and did some fantastic instruction for me and my family. It's been great! He is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and friendly. A great teacher. read more

This was the best $250 I've spent in a while. We took a custom course on emergency evacuation. We live in a high rise and wanted to learn to self-rappel. The instructor went way out of his way to prepare, asking about details of our building, possible routes, etc., and then focused on how to rappel in that environment. We learned everything we needed, and then got in some practice. He followed up, providing us links to places where we could purchase what we need. After that one, comprehensive, lesson, we feel prepared. It was also one of the most fun things I've ever done. Leaning back over a cliff has a way of challenging you to the core. read more

I took Level 1 and 2 climbing self-rescue classes with Saano. The course material was very organized, detailed, and helpful. Max walked us through a number of different rescue scenarios, taught us how to tie and use different knots, and how to stay safe on the crag. I'd highly recommend his classes if you're looking to become a safe, responsible climber. read more

Thank you! I took a private one day class that was educational and inspiring. Max customized the day to help me achieve my individual goals. His organization, clear communication and energetic teaching style made for a very productive and comprehensive class. He also made suggestions around how I can make the loads of information he taught me stick. I left his class feeling more prepared to lead and to better support my climbing partner. read more

I took the self-rescue class last weekend with Sanno Adventures. Max is a really good instructor. I have taken this class, every year for the last few years and I'm amazed at all the new stuff I learned. I would take another class from Max in the future. read more

Highly recommend this class- I took the anchor building course with max and feel so much safer in understanding the principles firsthand. An amazing experience and totally worth it read more

I attended the Level 1 Anchors and Rescue Class with Max this past weekend. Although we could not meet at the intended location (Cragmont State Park) due to Covid restrictions, Max did an excellent job of accomodating changes and tailoring the class to the new location. There were plenty of safety precautions in place to make sure we practiced social distancing while still getting the most out of the course. Max is an awesome teacher who knows his stuff- although the information is dense and technical, he taught it in a way that was digestible and accessible. I have been climbing for a few years, but much of the course info was new to me. I left the class feeling confident that I have the knowledge to make safe anchors, identify dangerous situations, and perform a rescue if necessary. Although it was a long day filled with lots of technical info (kilonewtons! physics! equipment! knots! anchors! rescues!), it went by quickly. In fact, outside of climbing, it was the most fun I've had in a while! If you're thinking about taking this workshop, don't hesitate... it is worth every penny. I can't wait to take another course with SAANO Adventures. Big thanks to Max for an awesome day! :) read more

I took an anchor building and rescue class taught by Max. Previously I had only done some bouldering, and in retrospect this should have been the class I took *after* trying out top roping in a gym a few times. Despite my lack of experience, Max did an excellent job accommodating me and everyone else in the class, and all of the information was really well organized, with lots of hands-on experience that's managed to stick with me even a month afterwards. When we started doing rescue scenarios later in the day, the light was starting to fade, but Max stayed late to make sure everyone got to have a go at it. All in all a great experience, which I'd highly recommend. read more

Took a hiking trip with Max Stewart in August 2014 to do Laugavegur Trek in Iceland. It was the best hiking trips I have ever taken. One of the reasons that it was so good was because Max was our guide! He took very good care of our group of 7 individuals and guided us through some difficult terrain for 7 days. He was prepared for every situation and everyone felt they were in good hands. I look forward to new hiking adventures with Max. I highly recommend any outdoor experience Max is leading. read more

Patagonia in 2012 and Iceland in 2013 are among many of the trips that I have gone on with Max as my guide. From our first trip together, a Kilimanjaro Summit on New Year's Day 2011, Max has proven to be a responsible and trustworthy guide, putting our well-being first at all times. In all of our trips, he constantly checks that we are physically well enough to keep going. He also makes sure that while we get very tired going up and down mountains, we always have a safe, fun, funny and memorable time. Our trips have at times been marred by odd circumstances - a storm watch in Colorado, a raging fire that destroyed half the Patagonia trail right before we arrived, and a flash flood in Iceland, to name a few - that could cause a guide to be flustered or frustrated. Not Max. In those situations, Max kept his cool, kept us updated so we kept our cool as well, and quickly changed course and make alternative plans so that we still had a great time. Last but not least, Max is just fun to be around. He gets as excited about each of his trips as any first-timer and he cannot wait to get his groups out into the outdoors. Once you get on a trail with Max, you can count on interesting stories, a lot of snacking, some (ok a lot of) singing, and an appreciation for where you are and what you're doing - even if it is walking through a hailstorm. I recommend taking trips with Max as a guide and cannot wait for my next adventure with him. read more

Max is incredibly knowledgeable, completely professional (he taught our class in a monsoon style storm without flinching!!) and very enthusiastic @ sharing safe climbing technique. His entry level class on anchors exceeded my expectations, I walked away feeling like I just invested in building a base to climb outdoors confidently. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to move from gym to outdoor climbing. read more

We took an Anchors and Rescue class with Max this weekend. He had a wealth of information and was a great teacher. He checked in with each participant very frequently to ensure we all understood the concepts. We practiced making a variety of knots, hitches, and anchors. We made anchors at the top of a climbing area at Cragmont Park in Berkeley using the skills we learned. Then we went down to the climbing area and learned how to take over a belay and ascend up a rope to rescue an injured climber. The class was excellent and I highly recommend it. read more

Max was our guide for a recent trip up to Napa for some outdoor climbing. I've only been climbing indoors a handful of times, so I was definitely a little nervous about climbing outdoors. We arrived a little bit late (ok, a lot late), but Max was just chilling at the trailhead all ready to go with our gear and a huge smile on his face. I grabbed my helmet, harness, and shoes (all looking brand new) and we headed out. We had a bigger group and Max made sure that we kept everyone close as we hiked the steep climb up to an awesome climbing area called the Bubble which overlooks Calistoga. Max hiked up the rock and set up the anchor for us, explaining anything that people had questions about very thoroughly. I was really surprised to find that I felt super safe on my first climb given that it was my first time outdoors. It was much harder than at the gym and Max did a great job coaching me up the climb, letting me know where I could put my hands and feet and explaining different techniques (one was called smearing) that I could use to my advantage. We had two ropes to climb and we would belay each other while Max would watch over us and give us tips. The views were breathtaking, and it was an incredible experience, way more fun than I could have imagined. Climbing outdoors is a whole different game from indoors and I'm so thankful to have had an awesome guide to lead me through it the first time. After climbing we headed to a nearby winery for some post-climb celebrations. All in all this was one of the most memorable weekends I've had in a long time and I would highly recommend SAANO, and Max, to anyone else looking for an awesome outdoor experience. read more

Max is an incredible guide and goes the extra mile to make you feel safe, informed, and entertained during your adventure. Max is a great teacher and I left our day of climbing knowing much more about outdoor climbing than I ever thought I would. I can't wait for the next opportunity to get out in the outdoors with Max and Saano Adventures! read more

I attended the Saano Anchor Building class with Max. My expectation was that I would learn how to build safe climbing anchors. The class exceeded my expectation. I did learn to build bomber anchors in man made or natural settings, but I also learned the benefits and pitfalls of using various materials in different circumstances. I learned how to calculate the load capabilities of each anchor setup and how to make a marginal anchor safer. It was the right balance between instruction, explanation and hands on practice so you leave with both the understanding and ability to apply what you learned. Safety is the common theme through the class and the climber rescue exercise was an added bonus. I look forward to taking the Advanced Rescue and Rappelling course next. read more

I DIDN'T THINK THE BAY AREA COULD GET ANY BETTER! Then I discovered SAANO Adventures. I traveled to San Francisco to visit family in early March and with the weather so beautiful, we decided it would be good to get outside. We discovered SAANO Adventures with a Google search and what a great discovery that was! We are avid hikers and after going out with SAANO on a day hike, decided we would like to give rock climbing a try. The SAANO team was amazing and our guide, Max, was patient, fun and obviously highly skilled. SAANO provided all of the gear (which was new and high quality) and even had shoes to fit my little feet and my husband's big feet! I will definitely book trips with this company again! read more