Leavenworth Rock Guides: Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing

New rock climbers often believe that climbing requires unusual upper body strength. In this course we demonstrate that good rock climbers have generally refined their rock climbing skill to the point where they have perfected their footwork, energy conservation, weight transfer, and balance, allowing them to move smoothly up difficult rock climbs. This course provides a starting point for new rock climbers, climbers that only climb in climbing gyms, or family or corporate groups looking for a fun day spent together in a beautiful place. This program in Icicle Creek Canyon, located about 10 minutes from downtown Leavenworth.

We begin the day with a safety discussion highlighting the hazards present at a given rock climbing area. Your guide then shows you how to put on your climbing harness and helmet. We like to put people on the rock early in the program, using a climbing top-rope, so that new climbers can immediately get a feel for some of the basic movement concepts involved in climbing rock. You will learn to tie a figure eight knot, how to belay, and how to rappel. The flow of the day combines actual climbing interspersed with a review of the different techniques and skills needed to manage risk and maximize your climbing ability. You will be exposed to various types of climbing including crack climbing, face climbing, and slab (friction) climbing. You will also learn how to use equipment such as locking carabiners, belay-rappel devices, and climbing helmets. We will also discuss differences between sport and trad (traditional) climbing and explain climbing ratings.

For this basic rock climbing course you need no previous experience and very little equipment other than comfortable clothing, water, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure. We provide your climbing helmet and harness as well as all the climbing equipment needed for this program.

Skills Taught in Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing

• Belaying top-roped climbs
  
• Belaying a lead climber
  
• Hazards of the outdoor crag
  
• Anchoring the Belayer
  
• Basic Crack Climbing Technique
  
• Basic Face Climbing Technique
  
• Basic Offwidth Technique
  
• Tying into the Climbing Harness
  
• Sport Climbing vs. Trad Climbing
  
• Rappelling
  
• Belay Signals and Communications
  

Courses Following Introduction to Outdoor Climbing

• Rock Climbing Anchors Clinic
  
• Introduction to Lead Climbing
  
• Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing
  
• Improvised Rock Rescue Program
  

Itinerary

At a 1:1 ratio this program takes 5-hours, and at a 2:1 or greater ratio this takes 8 hours. Courses are scheduled on demand, so call if you are interested. It is often possible to schedule courses at the last minute, but you should try to call well advance of your chosen date so that we can request access with the US Forest Service and schedule your guide. Don't have 5-hours? Contact us to see what we can do in a shorter format.

Qualifications

No previous climbing experience is needed.

Registration

To register for this course you should complete our domestic climbing application and return it to the Northwest Mountain School office. You can secure your course with a credit card by phone, but we must then obtain your completed application within 7 days. Feel free to call us at 509-548-5823 to discuss the trip. More registration details here.