We use a systematic approach to introduce and refine 12 critical outdoor rock climbing lessons.

• Overview of trad climbing equipment
• Outdoor climbing safety and hazard management
• Intro to trad protection i.e. cams & nuts
• Trad terminology, principals & physics
• How and where to place trad protection
• Trad climbing movement
• Building gear/trad anchors
• Lead climbing strategies
• How to rack up
• Rappelling skills
• Threading the anchor for lowering
• Natural anchors
• Mock leads
• Route selection and climbing grades

Our goal is to ensure that all participants will build a strong foundation to allow for ultimate safety, excellent technique, and a rapid progression. We use a fully comprehensive curriculum that has been developed by leading, certified rock climbing guides.

The course is run over a full day, with a low student to guide ratio and with your guide following our carefully crafted curriculum and lesson plan. This ensures each participant receives the full curriculum, coaching and personalized instruction.

You can take comfort in knowing that our instructors are certified guides and instructors who possess a great depth of experience, excel at their trade, and that Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures is the Sea to Sky corridor’s longest established and most trusted local mountain school!

8:15am: Meet your guide at Squamish Adventure Centre.

The guide will have everyone sign a waiver before having a safety discussion and performing a gear check. They will then discuss the day's objectives and lesson plan.

4:30pm: The day will end at approximately 4:30pm with a debrief, discussion of the course and next step recommendations.

Rentals/Purchase:

If you require rentals or need to purchase equipment, we have teamed up with the experts at the Escape Route Alpine Demo Centre. Follow the link HERE to purchase or rent gear for this course!

Instructor provides group equipment:

• Ropes
• Anchor building equipment

Individual Equipment:

• Rock climbing shoes
• Harness
• Helmet
• Belay device (with 1 locking carabiner)
• Prusik 1.5-1.7m, 7mm
• Anchor building equipment (2 locking carabiners, 2 non-locking carabiners & 120cm or 240cm sling)
• Chalk bag

The above gear can be purchased from MEC, Climb On (37873 Cleveland Ave, Squamish) or Escape Route (40222 Glenalder Pl, Squamish).

Clothing (Plan ahead, check the weather forecast, and dress accordingly):

• Climbing pants (light pants that allow maximum mobility)
• T-shirt
• Mid layer fleece or wool top
• Weatherproof shell jacket
• Down or synthetic insulating “puffy” jacket
• Warm hat
• Light gloves
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Approach shoes
• Daypack 25-35L

It is beneficial to practice using your own equipment under the supervision of a professional.

Topics Covered:

• Overview of trad climbing equipment
• Outdoor climbing safety and hazard management
• Intro to trad protection i.e. cams & nuts
• Trad terminology, principals & physics
• How and where to place trad protection
• Trad climbing movement
• Building gear/trad anchors
• Lead climbing strategies
• How to rack up
• Rappelling skills
• Threading the anchor for lowering
• Natural anchors
• Mock leads
• Route selection and climbing grades

Click HERE for the full curriculum