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Leading on Trad - Foothills - 2022

Climbing Course

Leading on Trad

Comprehensive introduction to leading alpine rock (with traditional protection) and rock rescue skills

Contacts

Yuxi Bai
Yuxi Bai
Leader
Jason Meng
Jason Meng
Leader
Krystian Walec
Krystian Walec
Leader

REGISTRATION Timeline!

Application is now closed

Application Submissions: October 01 - October 08 

Application results published: No Later Than November 1

Cancellation : Refund minus $10 by 2nd Session (February 19). No refunds on or after this date.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course teaches students the necessary skills for leading traditional climbs with strong emphasis on safety.  Note that this is not an introductory course, and it is not a course in which students are to advance their climbing grades. This course is oriented to those who wish to learn how to place gear, build anchors, and have basic rescue skills in an alpine environment.  To be accepted into this course, students must have prior leading experience in at least a few moderate single-pitch sport climbing routes on real rock.

COURSE TOPICS:

    • review of climbing equipment
    • natural / artificial protection in traditional climbing, gear placement and evaluation
    • anchor construction and evaluation
    • rope management and transitions
    • introduction to more advanced multi-pitch leading and rappelling techniques
    • introduction to self rescue

Students are expected to practice these skills outside the course activities, and are required to demonstrate proficiency in these skills for graduation from the course.

Graduation Requirements

  • Attend the Basic Instructor Review 
  • Satisfactory complete all course lectures, assignments, field trips, and climbs
  • Volunteer  4 days the Mountaineers by December 31, 2022
    • Preferred volunteering with the Foothills Branch - Basic or Intermediate
    • 2 weeknight practices count as 1 day
    • Rock skills oriented field trips: Fundamentals, Rock 1, Rock 2 (counts as 2 days if volunteering both days)
    • Leading on basic climbs counts as a volunteer day

COVID-19

The Foothills Climbing Courses require frequent in-person training indoors and outdoors. All students and instructors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the beginning of the course. If you are accepted into the course, you will be asked to provide your State Issued identification and vaccination card prior to being allowed to register. Additionally, all participants (Instructors and Students) will be required to keep up to date with current public head guidelines vis-a-vis COVID vaccines and boosters, exposure for quarantine, etc from the Mountaineers, King County, State of Washington, and Center for Disease Control

 

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Please do not purchase equipment until after the first lecture

Required

    • Personal anchor (1), plus 1 locking carabiner
    • Chock pick / nut tool (1)
    • Belay device that has guide mode (Black Diamond ATC Guide or Petzl Reverso equivalent) (1), plus 1 locking carabiner
    • Autoblock (cord tied in loop or hollowblock) (1), plus 1 locking carabiner
    • Long cordelette (21 feet in length minimum, 1+), for anchor-building
    • Additional locking carabiners (3+)
    • Single-length alpine draws (6+), each includes 2 non-locking carabiners
    • Double-length alpine draws (2+), each includes 2 non-locking carabiners
    • Black Diamond Camalot C4 #.3 - #3 (1 each, 7 total) or equivalent, plus 1 non-locking carabiner of matching colour per cam
    • Black Diamond Stopper Set #4 - #13 (1 set) or equivalent, plus 1 or 2 non-locking carabiner for organization

    Recommended

    • 2nd 25' 6mm nylon cordalette (5.5 spectra, 7mm nylon acceptable)
    • Climbing Rope (rated for single)
    Course Materials

    There are no materials for this course.