Trad Lead Climbing & PROGRESSION

This fast paced two day course is our popular Intro to Trad & Trad Progression Course combined. This course will allow climbers with previous belaying, building anchors & top rope climbing experience to excell in the discipline of trad climbing.

Topics covered during day 1:

• 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

Topics covered during day 2:

Spend a full day at the crag with a professional ACMG guide to take your trad climbing skills to the next level. Develop and advance your crack climbing technique and leading skills with a professional guide.

With this 2 day course our goal is to ensure that all participants are able to independently progress in leading trad climbing by building a strong foundation to allow for ultimate safety, excellent technique, and a rapid progression.

As you progress in the future, you may consider our excellent Intro to Multi-Pitch course to enjoy the multi-pitch routes Squamish is famous for. The Squamish Chief is home to many of North America’s best multi-pitch trad routes. Consider also taking the Rock Rescue course to learn essential rope rescue systems.

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

8:00am: 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.

Instructor provides group equipment:

• Ropes
• Anchor building equipment
• Natural protection (cams & nuts)

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
• Single rack of cams & nuts

Take advantage of our bundle pricing and purchase the necessary climbing gear for this course at checkout.

Any other gear not provided in our bundle pricing can be found at: 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 during day 1:

• 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

Topics covered during day 2:

• Cleaning Review (lowering or rappelling)
• Anchor Construction Review
• Movement Techniques
• Route Selection
• Efficiency improvements
• Lead belaying
• Efficient and effective gear placement
• Leader Safety
• Minimize rope drag
• Selection of trad climbing gear
• Where and when to place gear on a route