****This part first because I don't want it get lost at the bottom, then about the company****
Patrick Betts was the best. I mean he really was the best. He really made us feel like we were climbing with a buddy rather than climbing with a tour guide. He was VERY patient with us and helped us get comfortable with climbing. We didn't feel rushed or like he was looking at the clock. He took the time to teach us and even put his life in our hands, literally. Sometimes I find that when you do tour-isty things you get a guide who is just going through the motions and not really into what he/she is doing. You definitely don't get that feeling from Patrick, it is quite the opposite. I'm even afraid of heights and he really instilled the confidence in me so that I could make each and every climb. Great guy! Thanks for everything Patrick, my two sons and I have picked up a new habit thanks to you!
****Now about the company***
I found FRCC on the Garden of the Gods website and decided to give them a shot. My two sons, ages 16 and 18, had only climbed once before. We are beginners and I wasn't sure what type of experience we would get with FRCC. I was really worried this was going to be one of those tours where you get to climb some rocks but you're really not pushing yourself or doing what the "pros" are doing. Let me tell you, you are doing the exact type of climbing that others in the park are doing. You are right there climbing some great climbs.
We picked a four hour private session (which I highly recommend so you get one on one time). Our guide called us the day before and asked us what we were looking for, our experience levels, meeting time and place, shoe sizes, etc.
We met our guide the next morning at Garden of the Gods and we got right to climbing. Our guide showed us how to tie the knots we needed, showed us how to climb without straining our muscles and talked us through the climbs. We started with some easy climbs that showed us how to "trust" our feet. Then we moved on to another climb where we learned about under hangs (not sure if that's what they're called). Then on to climbing a ridge and rappelling. Then we finished with a climb we had done earlier on our own and this time we conquered it putting all the things we learned previously to use.
I can't say enough good things about our guide Patrick and FRCC. If you're on the fence go ahead and give them a shot, you won't regret it.
They have a military discount too.