As a lead climber, you accept much more responsibility for you and those you climb with. Even the most experienced climber has an occasional ‘epic’, where knowledge of how to get out of a tough situation can make the difference between a good story and something much worse.

We will review some of the critical skills of lead climbing including the nuances of belaying a leader, effective use of a cordelette, gear extraction while following, belay stance management, and more! Then, we will delve into the technical skills of ‘belay escapes’, tension-releasable hitches and getting to "baseline," from which rescue procedures can be initiated. Fixed-line ascending will also be addressed. (To help ensure high quality instruction, this course typically has a maximum of two participants.)

NOTE: This course requires significant past experience in the skills of rock climbing, placement of protection, and the concepts of anchor systems. You will be contacted by our office to ascertain your past experience to help ensure a successful experience for you.

Course Locations:
Joshua Tree National Park: October through May
Suicide Rock, near Idyllwild: May through September