Take ownership over your own adventure with our traditional rock climbing course. Learn essential skills and techniques from a certified guide.
Season
Spring through Fall
Skill Level
Intermediate
Duration
6-8 hours
Group Size
1 to 6 participants
Our Intro to Leading Trad Rock Climbing course is designed for climbers who want to progress from following to leading trad climbs. This course will cover essential skills and techniques to become a confident trad leader, including gear placement, anchor building, route finding, and risk management. With a focus on safety, our experienced instructors will guide you through the process of leading your first trad climb.
The course will begin with a review of basic climbing skills, including belaying, knot tying, and climbing movements. We will then move on to gear selection and placement, and learn how to assess the quality of rock for protection. You will also learn how to build and evaluate anchors, as well as techniques for protecting and managing falls. The course will conclude with a mock lead climb, where you will have the opportunity to apply your newly learned skills under the guidance of our instructors.
Upon completion of the course, you will have the knowledge and confidence to lead your own trad climbs and explore new routes with a greater level of independence. Join us for an unforgettable experience and take your climbing to the next level!
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Max Lurie - Owner of Alpine to the Max
Max Lurie is an American Mountain Guides Association certified Rock and Alpine Guide, as well as an accomplished alpinist. Max has been climbing since 2004 and traveling to the greater ranges in pursuit of his passion.
As an independently certified climbing guide based in Boulder, CO, Max provides custom education and mountain experiences in the Colorado Front Range and beyond. All of the climbing instruction offered through Alpine to the Max is customized to your goals, objectives, and skill level.
Our experienced instructors will provide personalized coaching throughout the course and ensure that each participant has the opportunity to practice and apply their newly acquired skills. By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to lead their own trad climbs and explore new routes independently. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!
Technical equipment
Equipment
Yes, you should have basic climbing experience, including top-rope climbing, belaying, and knot tying before taking a learn-to-lead trad climbing course. It is also advisable to have experience with leading sport climbs before moving into leading traditionally protected climbs.
You will need personal climbing gear, including a climbing harness, helmet, climbing shoes, and a belay device. The course will provide all necessary technical gear, including ropes, protection, and anchor-building equipment. However, if you have a rack and/or a rope you are welcome to bring them and use your own equipment.
Trad climbing can be very physically and mentally demanding, but the course is designed to be accessible for climbers of varying fitness levels. Participants should expect to hike to and from climbing areas and climb for several hours each day.
Yes, the course will cover rope management techniques, including rope stacking and managing rope drag while leading, to help you climb more efficiently.
Yes, risk management and safety considerations are a crucial part of the course curriculum. You will learn how to identify hazards and manage risks in a climbing environment to ensure a safe and enjoyable climbing experience.
Alpine to the Max is an independent certified guide with more than a decade of experience in a wide variety of terrain. No matter your current skill level, when you climb with us you get a top-notch experience that is fully customized to meet your exact desires.
