Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques

If you're already dialed at sport climbing but want to take your climbing to the next level, it's time to learn how to trad climb! This course will teach you how to properly place gear (cams, nuts), how to clean gear, how to trust your gear, and how to build trad anchors.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

We'll cover the following topics and skills:

  • Objectives - Take your outdoor rock climbing to the next level with our Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques course!
  • Skills
    • Types of Gear & When to Use
    • Gear Placement (as a leader)
    • Gear Cleaning (as a follower)
    • Trad Anchors
    • Trusting Your Gear

Here's the schedule for your course:

  • 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead

  • 8:30 am - We'll spend the day learning about various trad climbing techniques!

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
  • 3:00pm - Course ends

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • Basic Sport Climbing Experience - Including sport anchor building, rappelling, and belaying.
  • Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

  • Rock Climbing Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
  • Ropes and gear for training
  • Group safety gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
  • Wag bags for human waste disposal - in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
Not Included
  • Climbing Harness
  • Guide Gratuities

Rock Climbing Gear

  • Helmet, UIAA/CE approved for climbing
  • Harness with belay loop
  • Climbing Shoes
  • Approach Shoes (optional, bring if you have them)
  • Nut Tool, for removing nuts/stoppers (optional)
  • Non-locking Carabiners, 5 carabiners
  • Locking Carabiners, 5 carabiners
  • Belay Device
  • Assisted Braking Device
  • 1 Prusik loop, fixed 4’ loop of 6mm nylon cord or purpose built loop like Sterling “Hollow Block”
  • 1 Cordelette, 20’, 7mm nylon cord or 5.9mm
  • Sterling PowerCord
  • Double Length Sewn Runner


Know Before you go

SKILL LEVELBeginner
ELEVATION7,000-8,000'
LocationTahoe - Donner Summit

Price $200.00
Private Programs
Duration: 1 Day
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs

Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.

Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.

Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.

PRIVATE PROGRAMS

Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

Contact us
Full Itinerary

Here's the schedule for your course:

  • 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead

  • 8:30 am - We'll spend the day learning about various trad climbing techniques!

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
  • 3:00pm - Course ends

We'll cover the following topics and skills:

  • Objectives - Take your outdoor rock climbing to the next level with our Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques course!
  • Skills
    • Types of Gear & When to Use
    • Gear Placement (as a leader)
    • Gear Cleaning (as a follower)
    • Trad Anchors
    • Trusting Your Gear

Here's the schedule for your course:

  • 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead

  • 8:30 am - We'll spend the day learning about various trad climbing techniques!

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
  • 3:00pm - Course ends

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • Basic Sport Climbing Experience - Including sport anchor building, rappelling, and belaying.
  • Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

  • Rock Climbing Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
  • Ropes and gear for training
  • Group safety gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
  • Wag bags for human waste disposal - in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
Not Included
  • Climbing Harness
  • Guide Gratuities

Rock Climbing Gear

  • Helmet, UIAA/CE approved for climbing
  • Harness with belay loop
  • Climbing Shoes
  • Approach Shoes (optional, bring if you have them)
  • Nut Tool, for removing nuts/stoppers (optional)
  • Non-locking Carabiners, 5 carabiners
  • Locking Carabiners, 5 carabiners
  • Belay Device
  • Assisted Braking Device
  • 1 Prusik loop, fixed 4’ loop of 6mm nylon cord or purpose built loop like Sterling “Hollow Block”
  • 1 Cordelette, 20’, 7mm nylon cord or 5.9mm
  • Sterling PowerCord
  • Double Length Sewn Runner

Book Now
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