Wasatch, Trad Climbing Instruction

This full-day group or private course is designed to take your climbing skills to the next level, with instruction tailored to your ability and experience. Ideal for climbers who have sport climbing experience and a solid understanding of belaying, movement, anchoring, lowering, and rappelling, the course introduces trad and multi-pitch climbing techniques. Participants will practice placing gear, mock leading, and gradually move toward leading pitches under the guidance of an instructor who monitors placements and provides feedback throughout the day.

The curriculum covers a wide range of essential topics to build confidence and proficiency. Students will review knots, communication, belaying, and movement, while also learning to create solid anchors using traditional gear such as cams, nuts, hexes, and tri-cams, as well as fixed hardware, trees, and natural features. Additional focus areas include equipment selection and maintenance, racking, placements, cleaning, as well as general climbing knowledge such as using guidebooks, interpreting topos, understanding climbing grades, practicing Leave No Trace principles, dispelling climbing myths, and conducting hazard assessments. This comprehensive approach ensures climbers are well-prepared for more advanced routes and independent climbing.