Sport Climbing Equivalency

The goal of this evaluation is to enable candidates with significant outdoor sport climbing experience to obtain the Leading Sport Routes skill badge. Equivalency is offered on a best-effort basis from the Foothills Climbing committee and is targeted at candidates who will become active participants in the Foothills Climbing community. The candidate will need to demonstrate proficiency in the same skills that are taught in the Sport Climbing course; equivalency candidates and students are held to the same standard. Successful candidates will engender confidence that they can safely lead sport climbing routes and set up top rope anchors for other party members with limited supervision from a Mountaineers sport climb leader.

Process

1. Candidate reaches out to Sport Climbing course lead to discuss experience.
2. Course lead finds suitable opportunity for skills evaluation.
3. Evaluator (can be any Mountaineers Sport Climb, Rock Climb, or Climb leader) observes candidate on skills, outside, on rock sport routes.
4. Evaluator completes this form and sends it to the course lead.
5. Evaluator and course lead confer.
6. Course lead grants badge if appropriate and informs Foothills Climbing committee.

Prerequisites

Candidates should reach out to the Foothills Sport Climbing course lead. The lead will discuss relevant experience with the candidate and find a suitable opportunity for skills evaluation. At a minimum, candidates should have:

• Active Mountaineers member with signed waiver on file.
• Top rope belay and lead belay signoff from The Mountaineers or a climbing gym.
• 6 months of sport lead climbing experience.
• Set up and cleaned several SERENE anchors in a variety of sport climbing settings.