Women's Trad Progression

We will start with a review of safe trad climbing practices, including gear placements and trad anchors. We will move on to tricky gear placements and advanced crack and slab techniques, providing time for participants to climb and practice these skills.

We will discuss goal setting and redpoint strategies, including top-down vs. ground-up styles, as well as tools like beta maps and visualization. We will address the mental challenges that come with hard trad, including fear of falling and risk management.

We will choose single-pitch routes appropriate to the ability of the participants. Our focus will be on improving our skills in a safe and controlled environment, under supervision of an experienced professional.

The course will be run in a mentorship-style learning environment. At the start of the day participants will share their goals and where they are at in their personal climbing progression. We can then focus on areas that the participants are most interested in learning. Questions are always highly encouraged. Let's become stronger and wiser female trad climbers together!

Check out our Rock Progression Academy program for an in-depth program to all aspects of rock climbing.

8:30am: 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
• Personal Trad Rack
• 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

Mark your gear. A great way to make sure your gear doesn’t get mixed up with others’ is to mark it with a unique marking system. Some climbers like to put a small wrap of coloured of tape on all their carabiners. Another great option is to use nail polish, or other arts and crafts like paint or glitter glue!

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.

The following topics may be covered:

• Granite movement techniques and coaching
• Tricky gear placements
• Gear management and safety considerations
• Redpoint strategies (top down vs. ground up)
• Using tools like beta maps and visualization
• Risk management
• Mental challenges in hard trad
• Fear of falling
• Free-flowing questions and answers