Overview

Rock climbing courses are geared toward different interests and levels of ability. Courses include:

• Introduction to Rock Climbing
• Introduction to Leading on Bolted Routes
• Sport Climbing
• Crag Climbing

Top-Roped versus Lead Climbing

In top-roped climbing the climber is tied to a rope which passes through a solid anchor at the top of the climbing route. The top rope protects the climber against falling. In lead climbing, the climber clips the rope through protection points while climbing. Lead climbing requires the ability to climb confidently and safely.

Bolted Climbing vs. Trad Climbing

Bolted or sport climbing routes are routes with permanent man-made hardware allowing the climber to focus almost exclusively on the actual climbing. Traditional or trad. climbing routes do not have permanent hardware and the climber must use natural features such as cracks to place temporary pieces of hardware to protect against falling.

Free Climbing vs. Aid Climbing

In free climbing, the climber's weight is supported exclusively by direct contact between the climber's body and the rock, with the rope and climbing hardware serving only as a backup in case of a fall. In aid climbing, the climber attaches specialized hardware to the route to support body weight and move upward. Crag climbing course offerings do not cover aid climbing but there is a seminar offered by the Mountaineers which does.

Crag Climbing vs. Mountaineering

The Mountaineers also teaches rock climbing as part of its broader, mountaineering-oriented Basic Climbing and Intermediate Climbing courses. The Crag Climbing Course is not a mountaineering course and will not prepare you for a backcountry experience.

Introduction to Rock Climbing

The Introduction to Rock Climbing course is designed for those who have little to no outdoor rock climbing experience. In this course you will learn the basics of top roped outdoor climbing. This includes learning basic climbing knots, belaying skills, climbing technique, converting to rappel, and cleaning protection.

At the end of this course, you will be able to safely follow a lead climber on sport/crag climbs as well as know the basics for top roping on your own. Note: this course is a top-rope course only. It does not prepare you for an alpine environment or leading rock climbs. The course includes one lecture night, Vertical World gym night, one day field trip and one weekend field trip. Locations for field trips to include cragging locations such as Exit 38, Icicle Creek in Leavenworth, or Vantage (depending on weather and local conditions).

You may sign-up online ( www.mountaineers.org ) or call The Mountaineers clubhouse at 206-284-8484. Sign-up will start on March 1st, 2008 and go through April 25th, 2008. Cost for the course is $120.

You will find all the class documents in the 2008 folder. We will communicate with each other using the following community site: http://imis.mountaineers.org/source/communities/communityHomePage.cfm?section=communities&CmtyId=93. Please also look at the main page of http://mountaineersforum.org; this is the general forum for our climbers. You can find climbing partners, gear for sale and information about routes there. For information regarding the course, you may contact

Amy Hardie amylh4@hotmail.com or

Susan Sayers sjsayers@mindspring.com

For those women interested in our women's climbing forum you may go to the following website:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/women_climbers/

To post a message email, women_climbers@yahoogroups.com

Course Dates:

Spring Course:

Lecture: Weds April 30

Vertical World Session: Tues May 6

Field Trip 1 (Exit 38 first choice location): Sat May 17

Field Trip 2 (Leavenworth Icicle Creek first choice location): Sat June 7 + Sun June 8

Fall Course:

Lecture: Weds Aug 20

Vertical World Session: Weds Aug 27

Field Trip 1 (Exit 38 first choice location): Sat Sep 6

Field Trip 2 (Leavenworth Icicle Creek first choice location): Sat Sep 20 + Sun Sep 21

Number of Students:

20 students will be accepted into each class. Since no prior climbing experience is required and this is an intro class, students will be accepted by their order of signing up for the class. Students who attend the first lecture and decide to discontinue the class will be able to receive their money back. No refunds will be permitted after the Vertical World session. Sign-up will start on March 1st, 2008 and go through April 25th, 2008

Introduction to Leading on Bolted Routes

The Introduction to Leading Bolted Routes Course is a program of classroom and field instruction designed to equip students with the fundamental technical skills and experience necessary to safely lead climb well bolted single pitch routes of grades to 5.8. Instruction includes learning to clip, route selection and face climbing techniques. The course consists of 1 lecture and three days of outdoors climbing. Graduates will be able to participate in more advanced skills seminars offered throughout the season. Students who progress to the 5.9 sport climbing level will be eligible for the sport climbing course.

Instruction Topics:

• Belaying/rappelling/cleaning/equipment review
• Clipping techniques
• Reading a route
• Route risk assessment
• Route selection
• Clipping
• Face climbing techniques
• Leading a route

• Helmet
• Harness
• Belay device and locking biner
• 10 quick draws
• 1 Daisy chain with one locking biner and one sling with two biners or two slings with 4 biners
• Rock shoes
• 60 meter climbing rope suitable for leading

• 7:00 PM Wednesday April 2 at the Mountaineers Club House (Bring harness, belay devise and locking biner).
• 7:30 AM Saturday April 7 Vantage
• 7:30 AM Saturday April 14 Vantage
• 7:30 AM Saturday April 28 Vantage

Sport Climbing Course Description

The Sport Climbing course covers all aspects of climbing single-pitch routes at outdoor sport climbing areas with a focus on climbing technique and conditioning. Technical skills acquired in sport climbing can be applied to all types of climbing adventures, from sport routes to multi-pitch traditional routes and even to ice climbing. Figure out what you need to do to start leading into the 5.10’s and beyond on sport routes. Learn new techniques and improve your physical and mental strength during two months of training towards a target redpoint sport route at Vantage.

Schedule

• 1/31 kick-off and potluck
• 2/7 training
• 2/14 Stonegardens
• 2/19 Stonegardens
• 2/28 video review
• 3/3 & 4 Vantage Field Trip
• 3/24 & 25 Vantage Field Trip

How to Apply

The course leader's permission is required to register. Contact Sunny Remington (sunny9@u.washington.edu) for details.

Once you have leader's permission, register and pay the course fee online or by calling the clubhouse at (206) 284-8484.

Crag Climbing Course Description

The Crag Climbing course is designed to teach the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to safely lead traditional and bolted routes on outdoor crags. The course consists of one hands-on skill assessment/review, one gym climbing session, and four weekend field trips. The field trips are located at popular rock climbing areas in Washington. After successfully completing the field trips, students are expected to lead at least two pitches per climb on two or more Mountaineers Crag Climbs offered during the summer climbing season. Possible climbing areas include Exit 38, Mount Erie, Peshastin Pinnacles, Frenchman Coulee, Castle Rock, Royal Columns, Icicle Canyon, City of Rocks, Smith Rocks, Squamish, and Yosemite.

The Crag Course will teach proper use of active and passive protection needed for lead climbing in the crag environment, construction of safe anchor systems for top-rope/leading, swinging leads on mid-5th class (5.4 - 5.8) single and multi-pitch climbs, belaying a partner from multiple directions, rappelling in a variety of settings, and other pertinent sport climbing skills. The Crag course does not teach alpine travel and navigation techniques, nor is it a beginning climbing class.

Individuals who graduate from the Crag course may be able to apply these skills to other Mountaineers climbing courses; interested individuals should consult with the Administrative branches of the prospective course to determine equivalency.

Instruction Topics

• Selection and use of equipment needed for safe rock climbing,
• Review and use of the belay system used to “catch” a falling climber,
• Climbing techniques and strategies for single and multi-pitch rock climbs,
• Safe anchor construction and top-rope setups,
• Placement and efficient use of nuts, hexes and cam units on traditional routes,
• Techniques for leading on bolted routes, and
• Conditioning and safety for the crag climbing environment.

Costs and Schedule

This year's course fee and schedule may be found in the