Climbing Course
Crag Climbing
Multipitch module of the Crag Climbing course for the Bellingham Branch.
Contacts
- Tue, Aug 1, 2023 - Thu, Aug 31, 2023
- Committee: Bellingham Climbing Committee
- Members: $250.00 Guests: $350.00
- Availability: 2 (6 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Course Description
The Crag Climbing course is designed to teach the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to safely lead multipitch sport or traditional routes on outdoor crags. This is one module of the overall Crag Climbing course and it may be taken independently or in conjunction with the 2 other modules, Leading Sport Climbs and Leading Trad Routes, as a series.
Eligibility
The course is open to climbers age 16 and over. Prerequisites include the ability to lead climb 5.8 sport and/or lead climb 5.7 trad, and rappelling. It is mandatory that you have lead climbed at least 10 pitches in those grades. Knowledge of basic climbing knots, safe belay technique and setting and cleaning sport anchors is also required. Students of the Crag Course: Leading Sport or Crag Course: Leading Trad preferred but not required. Acceptance is based on meeting the course's prerequisites. Other factors considered are based on past and current climbing experience. Students are screened to select those with the highest potential for course completion. The class size will be limited to 6 QUALIFIED applicants.
You must be able to attend both evening sessions and the weekend to be considered for this module. Skills will be practiced in the evenings prior to the field trip in Squamish.
Badges you will earn:
Lead Belay Certification
Multipitch Systems
Crag Climbing Course
Leading Multipitch Routes
This course has no scheduled activities.
Wilderness First Aid Course
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Gear each student MUST HAVE for Class -
- Helmet, harness, rock shoes
- 1 personal anchoring device with a locking carabiner
- A belay device with locking belay carabiner
- A rack of trad gear (if you are taking the trad portion) with enough draws to use your rack
- 10 quick draws (if you are taking the sport portion)
- 3 locking carabiners in addition to the others already mentioned (standard sized)
- Small water hydration pack with water pouch and enough room for food and warm layers.
- Cordalette
- Nut tool and carabiner (does not need to be full size) and a knife
The ideal traditional rack to have for this course includes:
- Set of Cams - one cam each matching the following Black Diamond sizes: .3, .4, .5, .75 #1, #2, #3
- One carabiner (7 total) for each cam to rake them (these do not need to be full size)
- Set of Nuts/stoppers
You will be climbing in groups of 2 when you go out to do your multi pitch routes and will be combining your gear to make one full rack and sharing these items as your climb. Please make sure to mark ALL your gear. A paint pen or nail polish works great for this. We will be discussing gear and have some brands on hand for your review at the kick-off party.
Optional Gear you will want to consider:
- Ropes will be provided for this course but if you plan to continue climbing after the course you will want to purchase a light weight 60-70m rope.
- Light weight approach shoes. Many multi pitch climbs have walk-offs so you will need to have a good pair of shoes to hike in and off. You will need to carry these shoes on the climb with you, so the lighter the better.
- Additional set of small Cams. The recommended set of MUST have Cams is meant to cover most bases and not overwhelm your budget. However you will very quickly find that having a set of cams in the smaller range of sizes gives you more options and is much needed so if you can afford to purchase these cams to start with it would be highly advised.
- Having some light weight warm layers that can stuff down very small inside of a pack or attached to a harness can be essential. Sometimes on multi pitch climbs you can end up on Belay stations waiting for a very long time and it can get very cold/hot depending on the weather so you need to be prepared with appropriate clothing options for your safety and comfort. We'll discuss gear more at the kick off party.
- 2 short runners ( 30cmx8mm)
- 2 Pearbiners (aka HMS) for master point, belay and rappel