Rock Climbing Super Course

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Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing 2 days
Day One 8:00 orientation meeting at Gear Up Sports Rentals, Canmore
Formal introductions, sign waivers, safety discussion and backpack/equipment check.
Lesson 1 Equipment: fit for climbing shoes, harness, helmet
Drive: carpooling recommended where possible.
Lesson 2 Environment : leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
Lesson 3 On site safety: objective & subjective sport climbing hazards and safety protocols.
Lesson 4 Rock Climbing Movement : learn basic climbing techniques and bouldering
Lesson 5 Introduction to outdoor climbing specific equipment and use
Lesson 6 Introduction to different anchors and assessing anchor/bolt quality
Lesson 7 Top-roping: setting anchors and ropes for top-roping
Lesson 8 Tying in: use of figure 8 knot for climbing
Lesson 9 Belaying: current belay techniques using a belay tube
Lesson 10 Communication: climbing commands, proper terminology and communication with your climbing partner
Lesson 11 Lowering and Rappelling: using belay devices, system checks and safety
Lesson 12 Quickdraw removal and racking gear on the harness
Lesson 13 Threading the anchor with various anchor types
Lesson 14 Climbing technique: professional coaching and movement skills
Day concludes at approximately 16:30
Day Two 8:00 meeting at Summit Café, Canmore
Morning Meeting: coffee or tea, review, equipment check.
Drive: drive to a different climbing area.
Lesson 15 Safety reminder: current hazards and safety protocols in rock climbing. Lesson 16 Climbing: warm up and bouldering
Lesson 17 Learning to use guidebooks and choosing a route
Lesson 18 Tying in and Belaying review
Lesson 19 Lowering and Rappelling review
Lesson 20 Climbing: professional coaching and movement skills
Lesson 21 Objective and subjective hazards of outdoor climbing
Lesson 22 Mitigating hazards and planning
Lesson 23 Basics of Multi-pitch Climbing (designed for seconding bolted 2-3 pitch routes)
Lesson 24 Multi-pitch safety considerations
Lesson 25 Demonstration, how to second a multi-pitch and clean gear
Lesson 26 Securing yourself at anchors
Lesson 27 Rappelling or lowering off of multi-pitch sport climbs
Lesson 28 Mock Leads in preparation for the next phases of traditional and lead climbing
More climbing: Continuing rock climbing technique refinement with quality feedback and fine-tuning
Day debrief
Outdoor Lead Climbing
Day Three 8:00 meeting at Rocky Mountain Bagel co. Downtown Canmore
Meet at Bagel co. in Canmore safety discussion and backpack/equipment check.
Lesson 29 Lead climbing equipment
Drive to local area: Carpooling recommended when possible.
Review: Environment : leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
Lesson 31 On site safety: Current hazards and safety protocols.
Lesson 32 Introduction to different anchors and assessing anchor/bolt quality
Lesson 33 Top roping/mock leading: Top roping to prepare for your first lead
Lesson 34: How to rack up for leading
Lesson 35 Lead belaying demonstration: How to lead belay using a belay tube
Lesson 36 Lead climbing demonstration
Lesson 37 Preparing the lead: belayer placement, rope placement, stick-clipping and spotting
Lesson 38 Clipping and Un-clipping techniques for leading and cleaning routes
Lesson 39 Lowering vs Rappelling: Using belay devices, system checks and safety
Lesson 40 How to Clean a Route: Securing yourself to the anchor, cleaning the anchor, system checks and safety, retrieving quickdraws
Lesson 41 Learning to fall
Lesson 42 Leading strategy
Lesson 43 Leading problem solving: i.e: route longer than half rope, escape from mid route, etc.
Day debrief

Introduction To Trad Climbing
Day Four 8:00 orientation meeting at Beamers Coffee Shop in Canmore
Backpack/Equipment check. Goals and Agenda.
Lesson 44 Equipment: Overview
Drive to local rock climbing area: Carpooling recommended when possible.
Lesson 45 Onsite safety: Current hazards and safety protocols.
Lesson 46 Introduction to Trad Protection: Cams, nuts, pitons etc.
Lesson 47 Introduction to Trad terminology, principles and physics: direction of pull, passive vs. active, etc.
Lesson 48 How to place and remove different pieces of trad protection
Lesson 49 Building Anchors: Using the IDEALS & SRENE acronym for a solid anchor
Lesson 50 Building Anchors: Using appropriate soft materials for anchors
Lesson 51 Lead Climbing Strategies: Racking up for your lead
Lesson 52 Simulated Leads: Placing and removing protection on top rope
Lesson 23 Building and Assessing Anchors: When topping out on your trad climb
Lesson 54 Trad climbing multi-pitch seconding technique & considerations
Lesson 55 Natural anchors- assessment and use
Lesson 56 Climbing: Professional Coaching and Application
Day debrief
Multi-pitch Rock Climbing Course
Day Five 8:00 orientation meeting at Summit Cafe
Safety discussion and Backpack/Equipment check. Goals and Agenda.
Lesson 57 Multi-Pitch Equipment
Drive: Carpooling recommended when possible.
Review: Environment : Leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
Lesson 58 On site safety: Current hazards and safety protocols.
Lesson 59 Introduction to multi-pitch Theory: Was is a Multi-pitch?
Review: Knots, belayer & rope placement-belaying, and communication
Lesson 60 The multi-pitch back pack and approach strategy
Lesson 61 Gear Requirements: Putting together the right rack for the right route
Lesson 62 Racking up for a multi-pitch
Lesson 63 Lead belaying and top-down belaying: different systems
Review: Modern traditional gear: Removing and Racking
Lesson 64 Securing Yourself: To an anchor during a multi-pitch
Lesson 65 Rope and Belay Management: For Multi-pitch transitions
Lesson 66 Route Selection: Selecting the right Multi-pitch climb.
Lesson 67 Rope Selection: Single ropes vs half or twin ropes
Lesson 68 Double rope technique discussion and demo
Lesson 69 Retreat Options and Backup Plans- problem solving
Lesson 70 Rappelling with a back-up prussic
Climbing: Professional Coaching and Application
Day debrief and next day objective

Day six 7:00 meeting at Rocky Mountain Bagel co. Canmore
Morning Meeting: Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Drive: Carpooling recommended when possible.
Lesson 71 Multi-pitch Rock situational awareness & Onsite Safety: Review current hazards and safety protocols
Lesson 72 Choosing a belaying technique between auto-bloc and re-direct depending on situation
Lesson 73 Extending the anchor to see your partner
Lesson 74 Protecting the second from pendulum
Lesson 75 Advanced rope management- Ascent: effective switch-overs re-stacking
Lesson 76 Advanced rope management- Descent: J-looping anchor- pre-threading anchor
Lesson 77 Advanced rope management- End rope know or no knot discussion, rappelling with lap coils.
Lesson 78 Mentoring day climbing up and descending a multi-pitch route.
Lesson 79 How to assess next days route condition and weather forecast
Lesson 80 Assignment: Participants choose next days objective and make a route plan
Day Debrief and next day objective

Day Seven 7:00 meeting at Beamers Coffee Shop Canmore
Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Lesson 81 Evaluate participants’ route selection, plan
Lesson 82 Evaluate participants route condition and weather forecast
Drive: Drive to Local area.
Safety: Review current hazards and safety protocols- situational awareness- Multi-pitch rock
Lesson 83 Participants either lead up within their comfort level and capability or are led up a multi-pitch route.
Lesson 84 On going multi-pitch system instruction and feedback during the day
Lesson 85 Participants lead down a multi-pitch via rappel
Lesson 86 On going multi-pitch system instruction and feedback during the descent- Course debrief and next step recommendations
Course Closure
Day ends 1700
 

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Accommodation

Accommodation is not included. 

Should you require accommodation in Canmore, we have organized for your convenience excellent value accommodation packages with local providers: economy option at the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse $30 per night w/ kitchen facilities, superior option at the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge $123 per night based on double occupancy and luxury options - prices range on luxury level. These choices are made available during the booking process.

Food

Food is not included in this course. For your convenience, MSA offers several discounted meal packages at a great value. We have backcountry food preparation by Backcountry Bistro as well as agreements with several local Canmore and Banff coffee shops and restaurants. See Food.

Please make sure to pack a good lunch with plenty of high energy food and liquids including snacks.

Transportation

Transportation is not included in this course. You may add transportation for this course for $20.00 a day. For your convenience, MSA offers several discounted car rental packages with Enterprise Car Rental.  See Transportation

Equipment

All personal climbing equipment and group gear is included. This is excellent quality equipment including helmet, harness, rock shoes, belay device, locking carabiners, rope and chalk bag. Your instructor will bring all the group gear such as the rope, quickdraws, anchor material, etc. For o f your equipment, fitting and pick up will be at  GearUp Sports in Canmore.

Clothing

During the summer months weather conditions are constantly changing. Be prepared for both hot or cold days and even rain. There are several rain protected climbing venues. So please dress according to the forecast for the course days.

• Cliimbing pants or sweatpants work well
• T-shirt
• Mid layer fleece
• Rain jacket
• Puffy or  warm jacket
• Warm Hat and ballcap
• Thin gloves for belaying
• Sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
• Dayback large enough to carry personal and group gear.

Equipment

• Rock shoes
• Harness
• Helmet
• Belay device
• Locking carabiner
• Chalk bag
• Hiking pole
• head lamp

Your instructor will also bring;

• Rock shoes- sport climbing and multi-pitch
• Harness
• Helmet
• 2  x 60 metre single rope
• Auto Bloc Belay device (i.e. Reverso©)
• 4 locking carabiners
• 4 non locking carabiners
•  2 sections of 7mm perlon prussic’s of 5 meters length
• 1 section of 7mm perlon prussic of .5 (1/2 meter) length 
• 2 double length slings
• 1 set of quick draws
• 1 set of cams
• 1 set of stoppers
• 1 nut tool
• Chalk bag
• Hiking pole
• First aid kit
• Cell phone
• Guides Tarp- optional
• Programmable Radio- Instructor

Food & Water

Please make sure to pack a good lunch with plenty of high energy food and liquids including snacks.

Other

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