Outdoor Climbing Courses
Rock Novice:
Are you ready to take your climbing skills to new heights? Cliffhanger’s Level 1 program will get you there, teaching you the basic skills you need to build your own top-rope anchors, rappel and safely climb outdoors. Our ACMG Certified Rock Guides take care of the logistics, and provide a fun and informative introduction to outdoor climbing. This is our most popular course so book early. We’ll have you planning your next climbing trip pronto!
Topics and activities include:
- hazard awareness
- equipment overview
- guidebook use
- basic anchor systems off bolts
- rappelling
- fall restraint and edge safety techniques
- equipment care and use
- cliff ethics
Course length: 1 day
Prerequisite: Cliffhanger Introductory Course OR Belay Check Equivalent
Equipment: Provided by Cliffhanger
Ratio: 6:1
Location: Squamish (weather permitting)
Cost: $129.95 plus tax
Dates: April 21 & 27. May 11, June 16, July 14, Aug 10, Sept 7
Rock Master:
Cliffhanger’s complete anchors course will enable you to get out climbing on your own in a variety of complex top-roping terrain, including setting up top-ropes safely on challenging cliff-tops. Rock Anchor-Master covers a wide range of anchor configurations, and prepares you to secure your system in any given situation. Our two-day format allows guides to deliver more extensive instruction and skills – with 2 days to practice while supervised by a certified guide. As a result, we maximize your ability to deal with a greater variety of environments, and you leave with the ability to confidently build your own anchors anywhere top-roping can be done.
No previous outdoor experience is required; just an Introductory Course, and a minimum of two weeks of climbing experience.
Topics and activities include:
- anchor systems (bolts, trees, and rope extensions)
- fall restraint and edge safety techniques in complex terrain
- Top-down belaying: direct anchor and re-directed anchor belays
- hazard awareness
- crag/trail ethics
- equipment overview
- guidebook use
- rappelling
- equipment care and use
- Top-down belay tie-off and system escape
Course length: 2 days
Prerequisite: Cliffhanger Belay Check PLUS a minimum of two weeks of climbing experience
Equipment: Provided by Cliffhanger
Ratio: 6:1
Location: Squamish (weather permitting)
Cost: $249.95 plus tax
Dates: May 4/5, May 25/26, June 22/23, July 27/28, Aug 24/25
Rock Leader:
Option 1 : Sport
This sport climbing course takes place in the amazing climbing terrain of Chekamous Canyon, just north of Squamish, home of some of Canada`s hardest sport routes. Let our professional guides show you how to make the transition from indoor to outdoor lead climber and provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for a safe day of “Clipping Draws”!
Topics and activities include:
- equipment selection and use
- anchor re-thread
- lead dynamics review
- fixed protection evaluation
- rappelling; and “tramming” techniques
Option 2: Rock Trad
This is a two day Lead-Climbing and Protection Placement course in Squamish. This advanced Level Course is for those seeking to climb in terrain where fixed anchors and protection are not the norm and includes the following:
Topics and activities include:
- Hazard awareness and management
- Climbing Equipment – care and use
- Review of Edge Safety – fall restraint and fall protection strategies
- Evaluation of fixed anchors
- Review of Anchor criteria (IDEAS), and anchor building practice
- Rope management
- Rappelling with a prussik back-up
- Recommended equipment selection for lead-climbing.
- Gear placement, evaluation, and removal
- Lead climbing strategies
- Top-down and lateral belays
- Basic self-rescue and accident avoidance strategies
Please note: Due to the advanced and in-depth nature of these courses, all students should have sufficient indoor lead climbing experience, must be leading at a solid 5.10 level, and must meet with a Cliffhanger Manager prior to participating.
Course length:Sport 1 day, Trad 2 days
Prerequisite:See below*
Equipment:Provided by Cliffhanger (Including rock protection)
Ratio:4:1
Location: Squamish (weather permitting)
Cost: Sport $139.95 plus tax, Trad $279.95 plus tax
Sport Dates: April 28, May 12, June 15, July 13, Aug 11
Trad Dates: June 1st/ 2nd, July 6/7, Aug 17/18
*** Pre-requisites to Lead Courses***
Lead-climbing Courses require additional skills and we recommend all participants have as pre-requisites:
- the Lead Climbing Belay Test at Cliffhanger
- Rock Novice, Rock Master, or equivalent
- All participants should have their own personal climbing equipment (harness, belay device, rock shoes, and helmet)
Exceptions to these prerequisites must be discussed one-on-one with the guide.
Crack Tech
Improve your crack climbing and granite technique with some of the best climbers in Squamish!
This 1 day course will help you take your climbing to the next level with focus on the techniques and tricks used for all different sized cracks and granite walls. The small group size will give you a great opportunity to learn from some of the Squamish crack masters including Will Stanhope and Jasmin Caton.
Course length: 1 day
Prerequisite: Cliffhanger Belay Check PLUS a minimum of two weeks of climbing experience
Equipment: Provided by Cliffhanger
Ratio: 6:1
Location: Squamish (weather permitting)
Cost: $139.95 plus tax
Dates: Will Stanhope (June 8,9 & Sept 14,15), Jasmin Caton (July 6,7 & 13,14)
Rock Rescue
As soon as you are ready to do any multi-pitch climbing, you should know what to do if things go wrong and you need to get yourself out of trouble. This course will teach you the basic mechanics and systems needed for high-angle self-rescue. Don’t get left dangling in the wind!
Topics and activities include:
- Mechanical advantage techniques: pulleys, prussiks, block and tackle, etc.
- Anchor tie-off and escape with Munter, Reverso style devices, and re-directed belays
- 3:1 and 5:1 raises
- Rope ascending techniques
- Knot passes
- Counter-balance lower of an injured climber
Course length: 2 days
Prerequisite:Outdoor lead, Anchor course, or Equivalent
Equipment: Provided by Cliffhanger
Ratio: 4:1
Location: Squamish (weather permitting)
Cost: $249.95 plus tax
Dates: May 18/19, June 29/30
Other Courses for self-organized groups offered upon special-request through Cliffhanger include:
- Multi-pitch Climbing (2:1 ratio): Learn the skills involved in multi-pitch climbing over two days in Squamish.
- Basic Mountaineering (4:1 ratio): 4 – 7 day courses designed around your group’s needs.
- Custom Guiding: for any special trip you have in mind including corporate groups and large events.
For more information please call our Coquitlam location at 604-526-2402