Intro to Trad and Multi-Pitch Climbing

Are you tired of just clipping bolts at the crag? Do you want to step up to the high walls of Eldo, head into the RMNP alpine, or conquer the Flatirons? Then this trad course is for you.

Over two full weekends, and 3 optional weekdays (September 19 and October 10 weekends), we will cover:

• Active & Passive Gear: Placement principles, evaluation, anchors, and racking/transferring techniques for cams and nuts.

• Mock Leading: Practice placing protection on lead with zero ground-fall risk.

• Rope & Belay Management: Efficient station management, stacking, and handling multi-pitch logistics.

• Rappel Systems: Refresher on setups, extensions, auto-block backups, and stuck-rope avoidance.

• Communication: Clear belay commands and effective radio etiquette.

• Follower Efficiency: Cleaning gear cleanly, managing the belay, and keeping multi-pitch movement fast and safe.

Prerequisites & Requirements

• Belay Experience: Lead belay proficient (gym certification or equivalent outdoor experience).

• Experience leading Sport: Sport leading in the 5.8 range is adequate

• Essential Knots: Figure-8 retrace, Clove hitch, Auto-block, and Stopper knot.

• Basic Rappel Skills: Prior experience rappelling with a backup.

• Personal Gear: Helmet, harness, sticky-rubber climbing shoes, and a multi-pitch belay device (ATC Guide, Reverso, or similar).

Course dates

September 19 - 20: two full days in Boulder Canyon covering intro to trad leading

September 23 - optional climbing after work to practice skills. 

September 30 - optional climbing after work to practice skills. 

October 7 - optional climbing after work to practice skills. 

October 10 - 11: two full days covering multi pitch principles and skills