This new Mountain Training Rock Skills Course is a 2 day, intensive course suitable for those who have some experience of climbing outdoors, probably bottom roping or seconding, or for those who have led climbed indoors and are ready to move onto trad climbing, or for those who wish to become a more efficient and effective second.
Trad climbing is a much purer form of climbing than Sport climbing in that it engages not only the body but the mind as well. You have to believe in your gear and your ability to climb the route and place the gear on lead, knowing if you fall, that your gear will hold and your belayer – your lifeline – is there for you.
A trad climber arrives at the bottom of the route with usually 2 half ropes, a rack of gear, a safe and conscientious belayer by her side and sets off up the route placing traditional gear – nuts, cams, slings etc, that the second then follows, removing the gear as they climb to leave the rock free of equipment and leaving only chalk dust, to join the leader on a bombproof belay. There are only 4 places available on each of the two day Trad Leading Courses based in the Wye Valley or The Peak District. You will learn:
- How to place gear efficiently and safely using only one hand.
- How to build belays.
- How to lead belay using single and 2 half ropes.
- How to top rope belay safely and effectively using single and 2 half ropes.
- How to place and clip effective gear on the lead.
- How to lead trad on single ropes extending gear so ropes run smoothly.
- How to lead trad on 2 half ropes clipping gear to the right and left to keep both ropes in line.
- How to build belays on the lead.
- How to keep you and your second safe at all times.
- How to abseil and retrieve your ropes.
- How to manage single and half ropes and become slick and efficient.
- Be given advice on what gear to purchase to develop your own rack.
- How to maintain your gear and your ropes.
- Good climbing technique.
There is a minimum requirement of 2 people for each course, as Ali is alongside her clients on a static rope for their first few leads in case they need help with gear placements and to help develop confidence. Venue: Wye Valley or Peak District.
See Calendar for dates available.
Cost £200 per person, minimum of 2 people, maximum of 4. Book 2 places and receive a £20 discount. Become an independent trad lead climber on this intensive 2 day course. Please state your preference for venue when booking your course.
If these dates are inconvenient and you require a bespoke course don’t hesitate to contact Monsterclimbs or ring Ali 07814555378. Bed and Breakfast facilities are available for customers visiting from further afield. £40 per person or £60 for 2 people sharing. Details on request.
A one day Refresher Trad Lead Course is available for those who are returning to climbing after a break or who wish to regain their confidence. Venue can be arranged to suit. Cost £200 for a 1:1 or £140 each for two people. Maximum of 4 people.
Multi-pitch Climbing
Multi-pitch climbing courses are available to climbers who have experience of trad lead climbing on single pitch climbs who are ready to take the next step and move onto multi-pitch climbing routes or for those who have some experience of multi-pitch climbing but need further instruction to develop confidence. Courses can be tailor made to suit your needs and can be local to the Wye Valley at Wintours Leap, or further afield in North Wales or The Lake District. If you have some experience of multi-pitch and would like to develop your skills to explore sea cliffs then Pembroke, Swanage and Anglesey are possible venues
Multi-pitch trad lead courses are a minimum of 2 days. You will develop:
- Good belaying techniques – lead and top rope belaying (bringing up the second)
- Improved efficient climbing technique including resting
- Good gear placement and a better understanding of forces on gear and fall factors
- Good understanding of the necessity to extend runners to reduce angles, friction and increased fall factors
- Good stance management
- Good rope management
- Good belays on stances, including equalisation of anchors and hanging belays
- The ability to choose good abseil points
- The confidence to descend and set up multiple belays and to retrieve the rope
- The ability to tie off the belay plate
- The technique to create an assisted and unassisted hoist and when to use them effectively
You may initially be out of your comfort zone, but you will be safely guided throughout all the techniques and have opportunities to practice them.
Multi -pitch climbing does tend to take place in more remote places, and does have greater potential for things to go wrong, regardless of the safety chain involved. As the British Mountaineering Council clearly states climbing is potentially life threatening and clients must be aware of the inherent risks involved.
A two day course costs £250, minimum and maximum of 2 people. Courses available on request. If you are an individual enquiry you will be paired up with another client. Please complete contact form or phone Ali on 07814555378.