Denver Group Technical Trip Leader Info
By becoming a technical trip leader with the Denver Group, you can be qualified to lead trips in the following areas:
a. Top Rope rock and/or ice climbing
b. Sport climbing
c. Traditional rock climbing
d. Multi-pitch climbing
e. Ice Lead climbing
f. Alpine climbing
How to become a Technical Trip Leader with Denver Group:
- Be a current CMC Trip Leader in good standing with your CMC regional Group by
completing Leadership School, including online and scenarios training, possess a current
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, then
complete a technical LIT trip. - Have the mountain skills adequate to lead trips in the desired discipline. Note that
Sport, Trad, and Ice Lead refer to single pitch climbs; the discipline badge may be
modified by earning a Multi Pitch badge. Also, rock badges are organized in a hierarchy,
Trad>Sport>Top Rope, with each higher badge including the badges below it. Alpine
includes snow, alpine ice, scrambling, and may include short sections of low fifth class
climbing. The typical experience and the required skills are described in the following
Activity Standards:
a. Top Rope rock and/or ice climbing
b. Sport climbing
c. Traditional rock climbing
d. Multi-pitch climbing
e. Ice Lead climbing - Submit an application to the Denver Group Technical Climbing School Committee and
receive approval as a Technical Trip "Leader in Training (LIT)". - Regardless of experience, a Technical Trip Leader in Training (Technical LIT) shall
complete a Technical LIT trip. The Technical LIT trip shall satisfy the requirements
outlined following, as well as fulfill the requirement of an LIT for a CMC Leader badge.
The Leader in Training will plan, manage, and demonstrate good technical and
leadership skills on at least one technical trip, with an approved Technical Trip Mentor
Leader acting as a co-leader, and receive a positive evaluation for the specific technical
trip classification. Additional co-leads may be needed to demonstrate competency in
critical technical and leadership skills. The following evaluation forms outline the
categories and standards on which candidates will be evaluated.
a. Top Rope rock and/or ice climbing b. Sport climbing
c. Traditional rock climbing
e. Ice Lead climbing
(Rev 06/23/2025) - Receive approval from the Denver Group Technical Climbing School Committee who
reviews and approves TTL applications on a rolling basis for the Denver Group
Leadership Committee.
How to apply
The Denver Group Technical Trip Leader Application can be found at
- The Denver Group TCS Committee will review applications on a rolling basis, or at
least monthly. - Technical Trip Leader In Training (LIT)/co-led technical trips will be scheduled with
applicants, as available. A list of Technical Mentor Leaders can be found here [this
should be a link to the list of Denver Mentor Leaders]. The TCS Committee will assist
applicants with finding a Mentor Leader and scheduling an LIT trip, if necessary.
Applicants who do Technical LIT Trips in multiple disciplines are encouraged to do
them with different Technical Menor Leaders for the benefit of receiving different
insights and feedback. - Applicants who desire to lead trips in more than one technical discipline, are
encouraged to schedule a co-lead that combines them.
○ Example 1: a candidate competent in leading multi pitch trad climbing may
complete a multi pitch trad LIT trip to qualify to lead trad and sport single or
multi pitch climbs, as well as top rope rock trips.
○ Example 2: a candidate who wants to lead rock and ice top rope trips may
schedule an ice top rope LIT, which qualifies him or her to lead ice or rock top
rope trips, whereas leading a rock top rope trip would require an additional
climb or co-led trip to establish competency in an ice climbing environment.
here
Staying Current
- TTLs agree that they will lead trips at or below their current level of ability.
- TTLs must maintain standards that apply to Trip Leaders statewide. (WFA,
Avalanche/AIARE, etc.). These are outlined in the State Trip Leader Manual available
online. - TTLs will stay up to date on current CMC trip and operating policies.
- TTLs must lead a technical level trip once every year for State to retain TTL
status. This trip can be offered to the general membership OR a trip while
teaching in CMC Schools.
(Rev 06/23/2025)
Adding Technical Trips to www.cmc.org
Trip posting privileges are enabled by staff when the CMC Trip Leader badge is assigned.
Difficulties with accessing trip creation software should be addressed with office staff and
reported to the Mentor Leader who led the Technical LIT trip.
FAQs:
Q: What if I’m already a Denver Group trip leader? Is there anything else I need to
do?
A: As of June, 2025, those who were grandfathered in to State Technical Leader privileges
are granted Denver Group Technical Leadership privileges. Current Denver Group leaders
must successfully complete an appropriate LIT trip.
Q: I’m a Denver Group member, but I’m only interested in leading technical trips.
What does this mean for me?
A: This is ok! You still need to take Trip Leader School, have current WFA, and Avalanche
Education (if applicable), etc. Once Leadership School, including online and scenarios
training, has been completed and other credentials are current, a technical LIT trip may be
completed to fulfil the LIT requirement for both the technical discipline badge and the CMC
Trip Leader badge.
Q: I still have questions… who may I contact?
A: Please contact TCS Committee member: Brian Le Blanc
Or CMC Education Director Graham Ottley