Learn to Lead Sport

Season:

The Learn to Lead Sport climbing course is designed to build your skills so you can take your climbing to the next level. Leading sport routes opens up vast amounts of climbing and with this course you'll learn everything from clipping technique to safety considerations from a certified guide.

Participants receive private instruction with a guide for themselves or the group they booked.

Quick Info

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Length:

6 - 8 hours

Group Size:

1 to 6 people

Overview

In this course we will equip you with the knowledge to take your climbing to new heights. We'll cover skills for leading sport climbs including

• Gear considerations

• Route Finding and using guide books

• Evaluating bolts and fixed gear

• Using a stick clip to hang or remove quickdraws

• Clipping quickdraws

• Important mistakes to avoid while leading

• Effective communication

• Important considerations for lead belaying

• How to fall safely

• Belaying falls and giving soft catches

Of course all of these skills are taught and supervised by a Certified Rock Guide to provide the best education and highest level of safety.

Building skills through first hand experience and expert instruction is a great way to learn. In this course we'll make sure you not only understand how to maintain your safety while lead climbing, but make sure you have time to practice under our expert supervision.

Participants should have previous experience climbing, top-rope belay skills, and solid climbing movement skills.

Details

Required Climbing Equipment:

• Helmet

• Shoes

• Harness

*Helmet and harness must be UIAA certified for climbing use.

Additional Recommended Climbing Equipment (bring it if you have it):

• Rope

• 5 locking carabiners (HMS style preferred)

• Anchoring material (ideally a 120cm sling, a 180 or 240cm sling, and a 18-22ft cordalette).

• 12-16 Quickdraws

• 1-4 Alpine draws

• Assisted breaking belay device (ie. Grigri)

Other Gear:

• Appropriate footwear for hiking on rocky, uneven ground.

• Athletic clothing that doesn't restrict your movement.

• Layers for insulation, it can get cold any time of year in the mountains.

• Rain jacket/pants. While we hope for nice weather, we can often still climb when it's a bit rainy so it's nice to stay dry when walking around.

• Lunch & Snacks - your body needs food to keep moving.

• 2+ Liters of water, at least 3 for a hot day.

• Sunscreen (we recommend SPF 50 or higher).

• Personal care items such as medications, skin care, etc.

• Backpack (25-35L) to fit all your gear inside.

Equipment

Rumney Rocks

THE sport destination of the northeast and for good reason; it homes a bounty of fantastic routes at every great.

Cannon Cliff

A cliff as big as it's reputation. These towering walls offer the biggest routes and best adventures from 5.6 to 5.hard.

Cathedral Ledge

New Hampshire's most popular traditional climbing venue thanks to short approaches, numerous cracks, and perfect granite.

New England

Some of the venues we visit:

Rocky Mountain National Park

Towering granite walls make RMNP a paradise for all visitors. Join us to leave the car behind and experience the walls first hand.

Rifle Mountain Park

World famous for spectacular sport climbing limestone walls. The narrow canyon canyon offers the perfect climbing venue with no approach.

The Flatirons

Climb the famous Flatirons! With spectacular views from Boulder to Kansas, they offer amazing multipitch climbing for all levels.

Colorado

Red River Gorge

Americas most popular climbing destination. Thousand of sandstone routes of all grades and styles. Check out the famous Miguel's Pizza!

Ten Sleep

Escape Colorado to discover the magic of bighorn dolomite: perfect edges and pockets on vertical walls.

ANYWHERE!

Mexico? Greece? Turkey? Australia? Let us know where you want to go and we'll see what we can do to make it happen!

More!