Technical Climbing School

The Colorado Mountain Club’s Technical Climbing School connects aspiring climbers with their vertical ambitions and likeminded mountaineers.

Classes and trips are designed to teach the technical elements of rock and snow climbing, including the use of ropes, anchors, ice tools, protection, crampons and specialized skills to safely negotiate challenging terrain. The class modules are ideal for individuals with goals such as leading fifth-class rock, ice climbing or ascending difficult peaks.. The entry-level courses provide a foundation, covering such topics as belaying, movement techniques, gear and navigation. More advanced courses build upon those basics and teach students everything they need to climb throughout Colorado. The modular approach to the curriculum allows students to select classes and dates that fit their schedule and specific interests. The classes can be taken individually or as packages to achieve a certificate in Alpine Climbing.

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Find an overview presentation of TCS here:


Rock Climbing Courses

The entry-level courses provide a foundation, covering such topics as belaying, movement techniques, gear and navigation. More advanced courses build upon those basics and teach students everything they need to climb throughout Colorado. 


INTRO LEVEL:

Basic Climbing


BASIC LEVEL
Requirements:
INTRO or Equivalent Experience

  • Intermediate Rock Climbing (200)
  • Basic Anchors (200)
  • Climbing Self Rescue 1 (200)
  • Rescue 1 (200)

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Requirements:
BASIC or Equivalent Experience

  • Sport Lead Climbing (300) 
  • Multi-Pitch Essentials (300)
  • Climbing Self Rescue 2 (300)

ADVANCED LEVEL
Requirements:
INTERMEDIATE or Equivalent Experience

  • Advanced Anchors (400) 
  • Traditional Lead Climbing (400) 
  • Advanced Trad Climbing Clinic (400)
  • Advanced Multi-Pitch Concepts (400)
  • Intro to Aid Climbing (400) 

Click here for current Climbing Courses:

CLIMBING COURSES

CLINICS
Requirements: 
Requirements may vary depending on class. Preference will be given to Instructors and climbers that have completed Advanced Level classes. 

  • Crack Climbing
  • Rock Warriors Way
  • Advanced Trad
  • Big Wall
  • Aid Climbing
  • Pro Athlete Clinics (CAMP, AMGA, etc.)

Typically Offered: May - September

Badges you can earn: Advanced Anchors, Advanced Multi-pitch, Advanced Self Rescue in Technical Terrain, Aid Climbing Course, Basic Anchors Course, Basic Rock Knot Tying Course, Multi-Pitch Climbing Course, Rock Seconding Course, Sport Lead Climbing Course, Single-Pitch Climbing, Top Rope Anchors, Top Rope Climbing, Traditional Lead Climbing Course, Traditional Protection & Anchors Course


Alpine & Snow

  • Intermediate Snow
  • Advanced Snow
  • Basic Alpine Climbing School: Basic Alpine Climbing School is a one course
  • Intermediate Alpine Climbing School
  • Advanced Alpine Climbing School

Typically Offered:  March - April

Badges you can earn: Intermediate Snow, Advanced Snow, Basic ACS, Intermediate ACS, Advanced ACS

Click here for current ALpine Courses:

alpine COURSES


Ice


Basic Ice Climbing
(200)

Intermediate Ice Climbing

Mixed Climbing / Dry Tooling

Ice Lead Climbing

Typically Offered:  January-February

Badges you can earn: Basic Ice Climbing, Intermediate Ice Climbing, Mixed Climbing / Dry Tooling, Ice Lead Climbing

Click here for current ALpine Courses:

ice COURSES