Sam Somarra

About me

I was born in California, but grew up between Oregon, South Carolina and Rhode Island. In 2019 I graduated from Syracuse University and that same year I moved to Connecticut to teach History and Philosophy at The Hotchkiss School, where I still live and teach. I had always loved spending time outdoors via fly-fishing, camping, backpacking, cycling, and hiking, but I didn't discover climbing until 2021. What started as an interest in general mountaineering quickly grew into a passion for all genres of the sport, including rock climbing, ice climbing, and alpinism, as well as a desire to share these activities with others. This passion drove me in 2023 to begin working with colleagues to revitalize Hotchkiss's climbing program. At the same time I also began pursuing my MEd in Experiential Learning and Development at Plymouth State University. Climbing has taught me some amazing lessons and taken me to some incredible places. Ive climbed from the North Cascades to Red Rocks to the Mont Blanc Massif. Despite this, I'll always love the cliffs, crags, and mountains of the North East where it all began. Connecticut in particular has some amazing climbing and an even better climbing community that most people simply don't know about. I feel fortunate to get to work with Small Cliffs to share my passion for education and climbing with folks in and around Connecticut. I hope to rope up with you all sometime soon! Certifications and Qualifications: AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Red Cross Basic First Aid CPR Certified