Learn to Trad Climb

Traditional, or “Trad” climbing, involves placing your own protection as you go up the wall. This opens up a whole new world to explore, and enables you to climb thousands of routes that go without bolts whether it’s in Colorado or elsewhere. Learning to trad climb is exciting, fun and very rewarding as you learn to diligently problem solve. Once you’ve begun to master movement in outdoor climbing, trad offers an additional puzzle to figure out along your way. We’re talking trad gear; nuts, cams, slings, ropes and other tools of the trade! Racking gear is pretty satisfying, and we all love to jingle our way up the wall.

Join our guides and instructors for an 8hr course that will help you build a solid foundation in the art of traditional gear placement, anchor building, terrain management, basic self rescue, and more. We’ll help equip you with the tools you need to tackle any “problem” you encounter on a trad climb – how to identify cracks and constrictions, place gear, read wandering routes, and properly protect them. What’s a twin rope? Why does this rope say it’s only a half rope? We’ll answer these questions and more.

A big part of a successful trad climb is building simple, safe, and efficient anchor systems for you and your partner. If you’ve done any sport climbing, you’re well familiar with bolts and how convenient it is to anchor to them. But in traditional climbing, there are none (usually)! We’ll work together to demonstrate multiple types of climbing anchors that you can use and adapt to your style, and develop that keen eye for choosing great belays.

Like your first time outdoor climbing, trad climbing can be a little intimidating. But our team is excited to help you start the journey of traditional climbing!

The Introduction to Trad Climbing course is for climbers who have mastered the basics and want to take their climbing to the next level.  Throughout this course, you will learn the necessary skills to climb single pitch trad routes while learning new technical systems and practicing movement skills. There is a strong emphasis in this course on gear placement and anchor construction.

In this course, you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions, practice skills, and apply them in new ways.  Practice makes perfect and we guarantee there will be lots of time to hone your new trad climbing skills under the watchful eyes of AMGA Trained and Certified Guides.

Please note that all climbing will be done with a back up, top rope belay.

Prerequisites:

Participants should have prior experience with lead climbing and be comfortable climbing up to a 5.8 on a top rope.  Previous experience with knots and hitches and basic climbing systems, is required.

Topics Covered

• How to properly place gear

• Different types of protection and their uses

• Natural and artificial anchors

• How to protect a follower

• Review of knots, lead belaying, and route finding

• Terrain considerations and rope management

• Climbing movement

• How to rack trad gear, maintain, and store it

• Introduction to self rescue

• Differences between single and multi-pitch trad climbing

Highlights

• Learn from a pro! Our guides/instructors have undergone rigorous training and certification to be able to teach you

• Learn the basics of trad climbing, gear placement, and anchor construction as you take your adventures to new heights

• Plenty of time to ask questions and practice new skills as you begin to refine your trad climbing toolbox

• Boulder Canyon and Eldorado Canyon offer a plethora of excellent trad routes and ground school areas for learning

• You’ll walk away from this course with an understanding of both single and multi-pitch trad climbing

Price Includes

Includes:

• A professionally trained and/or certified AMGA guide or instructor

• All necessary climbing equipment including harnesses, helmets, climbing shoes, belay devices, ropes, and protection. We do recommend that you bring your own personal gear that you’r comfortable in, however we will provide gear if needed.

• Professional guiding and instruction throughout the entire day

• Resources to further your rock climbing journey

Excludes:

• Transportation. You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from a designated meeting area

• Gratuity of 10% - 20% is common for this industry.

• Personal items such as food, clothing, backpack, etc. A gear list will be provided!

• Entrance fees and parking fees (if necessary)

Itinerary

7:45am – Meet at the local climbing area.

​8:00am – Introductions, small talk, and gear check / gear fitting.

​8:20am – Head up to the crag!

​8:30am – Ground school & classroom portion

• Differences between sport and trad climbing

• Trad gear selection and usage (cams, nuts, tricams, passive protection)

• Rack building and gear organization

• Knots review and advanced knots for trad

• Trad climbing ethics, route finding, and risk assessment

9:30am - On the rock / practical skills

• Proper gear placement technique (cams, nuts, etc.)

• Learn to build natural anchors

• Cleaning gear while lowering / rappelling

• Basics of self rescue

11:30am - Lunch time.

12:00pm – Get some climbing in!

3:15pm - Debrief, Q&A, next steps

• Review of the day

• Personalized feedback for each student

• Recommendations for future progression

3:45pm - Pack up gear and enjoy your new skills!