Rock Climbing Courses
Belay Skills Practice
Introduction to Outdoor Climbing
Prerequisites:
None
Description:
First time climbers, families, and indoor climbers interested in outdoor climbing are encouraged to begin their experience here. This course will introduce climbers to the rudiments of rock climbing gear, knots, belay techniques, and basic movement in climbing. Like all of our courses, course content is tailored to each climber's personal climbing goals and needs.
Course Length:
1-2 days, longer courses more thorough.
Group Climbing
Group Climbing
Prerequisites:
None
Description:
If you are planning on bringing a large group to the crag, this is your course. We will learn the particular needs and goals of your group and develop the course content to meet your group's needs. Your day can be anything from a simple "plug-and-play" day where your groups members focus only on climbing fun, to detailed, sequential custom curricula (e.g. boy or girl scouts, camping staff training).
Course Length:
Any number of days based on needs of the group.
Anchor Clinic
Toprope Setup and Anchor Building
Prerequisites:
None. However, the course is customized to previous experience. Experience dictates depth and breath of instruction.
Description:
Climbing anchors are the core of safe climbing systems on rock, snow and ice. This course is a thorough introduction to rock climbing anchors, and the ideas herein transfer beautifully to snow and ice. An emphasis will be placed on building and analyzing bottom managed site anchors ("slingshot" setups) as well as top managed systems using both artificial and natural anchors, including V, N and combination rigs. Like all of our courses, the content is customized to our client's needs, and the course can also cover rigging and retreating from bolted and other fixed anchors. This course will help any indoor climber transition safely to the outdoor arena, and many experienced climbers report great gains in new techniques, technical knowledge, application, and anchor efficiency. Come learn with us!
Course Length:
Suggested 2-3 days. Longer courses more thorough.
Lead Climbing I
Prerequisites:
Top Rope Setup Course, or significant equivalent experience.
Course Description:
Learning how to lead climb is a major step in many climbers development. Through detailed discussion of gear and techniques as well as extensive use of mock leads, climbers can expect to gain knowledge and experience that allow them to effectively manage the risks and challenges of lead climbing. This course can be focused more on sport or traditional leading depending on the climbers preference. Topics covered include
- single point anchors using nuts, cams, tricams
- single point anchor orientation management
- sling length management
- carabiner orientation
- leg wrap awareness
- route assessment
- anchor transitions (to setup, to lower, to rappel)
- belay management
- anti-zipper route analysis and management
Expect serious gains in your technical knowledge, and a new level of awareness of risk management pertaining to lead climbing. Come climb with us!.
Course Length:
2 days, with additional add-ons for greater depth.
Lead Climbing II (Advanced)
Prerequisites:
Lead Climbing I or equivalent experience.
Course Description:
This course is for intermediate and experienced climbers seeking to check their safety systems, update and further their knowledge and risk-management skills, and increase their lead climbing prowess. The course introduces and reinforces wide-ranging awareness of advanced risk assessment and management relating to lead climbing including
- reading rock curvature (identifying zipper prone routes/features)
- dedicated anti-zipper pieces
- exploiting camming angles on micro features
- multi-directional anchors as URPs
- controlling rope travel & isolation (rope protection)
- rope drag management
- leg wrap awareness
These areas and more are critical to managing risk. This course can help you develop these skills in a safe environment, to isolate and fill your gaps in knowledge that may be holding you back back from these next level climbs.
The instruction can include challenging mock leads on terrain that lends itself to complex rope travel and drag issues, and/or dangerous vector dynamics that must be actively managed, and/or complex anchor selection issues. Afterwards, the single point anchors and their riggings are reviewed and discussed, as well as the choice of anchor location, aspect, and rigging.
Expect serious gains in your "quiver" of techniques, your comfort level, and your technical system awareness.
Course Length:
1-2 days, longer courses more thorough.
Multi-pitch Course
Multi-pitch Climbing
Prerequisites:
Lead Climbing I or equivalent experience
Course Description:
Multi-pitch climbing parallels a single pitch environment in some ways, but the differences in rope management and efficiency can make or break a great day out on the mountain. This course will address
- micro and macro route finding
- belay/anchor planning and stance management
- anchor analysis
- rope management
- stance management
- direct belays, indirect belays, and redirected belays
- "ghombi," "dhombi" and "mhombi" anchor systems
- transitions at belay stations
- mountain sense and efficiency
This course will expose you to some guide level techniques of moving through multi-pitch terrain. If you have not climbed with a certified instructor, take this opportunity to rapidly acquire new techniques and increase your comfort level on multi-pitch terrain.
Course Length:
2 days. Add-on days to provide more depth.
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course and Exam
We are excited to offer this excellent course to experienced climbers with a desire to begin or improve their guiding skills on single pitch terrain.
More information is available under "Training Programs" on the Menu. Click here to get there.