Rock Climbing
CLIMBING & MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOLS
TECHNICAL CLIMBING SCHOOL (TCS)
The Colorado Mountain Club’s Technical Climbing School connects aspiring climbers with their vertical ambitions. 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.
pikes peak group advanced rock climbing program (ARC Pro)
The Pikes Peak Group Advanced Rock-Climbing Program, or ARC Pro for short, is an educational program aimed at climbers who have learned the basics of outdoor rock climbing and are looking to expand their climbing knowledge into new areas such as anchor building, sport climbing, trad climbing and multi-pitch climbing. We also offer two levels of self-rescue classes to help climbers have skills to deal with the unplanned challenges that can arise while climbing.
BOULDER MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL (BMS)
The aim of the BMS program is to provide students with an introduction to the skills they will need as they continue to spend time in the mountains. These skills are introduced and practiced through lectures, field trips and additional rock and high peak climbs.
ALPINE CLIMBING SCHOOL (ACS)
Within the Technical Climbing School, you can take 6 of our 17 classes to earn a certificate in Alpine Climbing. Think of the Alpine Climbing School (ACS) as an academic/vocational degree within the Technical Climbing School.
GLACIER TRAVEL MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL(GTMS)
Take your mountaineering skills to the next level. After completing Alpine Climbing School, you are eligible to take Glacier Travel Mountaineering School. The Glacier Travel Mountaineering School is for CMC members who are interested in learning and practicing the glacier travel and alpine skills that are needed to safely climb and enjoy glaciated mountains, including Peaks in the Pacific Northwest (Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams), Denali, the Andes, and the Himalayas! Glacier Travel culminates in a climb of Mt. Rainier, Mt Baker, Mt Adams or a similar high, glaciated peak.
BASIC ROCK COURSES:
Basic Climbing Basic Climbing is the best class to start with! It is a prerequisite for all the rock, snow, and ice climbing classes (not required for navigation courses). Upon completion of this class you’ll be able to climb indoors at any rock climbing gym.
Basic Anchors Prerequisite of Intermediate Rock Climbing. Students will learn to build top rope climbing anchors using natural features and fixed protection. This class covers how to evaluate natural features (trees, boulders, rock horns, etc) and fixed protection (bolts). You will learn how to build anchors suitable for top-roping and rappelling.
Climbing Self Rescue Building off of skills learned in Intermediate Rock Climbing, this course will prepare students to deal with problems they may encounter during a multi-pitch climb. Functions as a partial prerequisite to Climbing Self Rescue 2.
Knot Tying School (101) Learn the essential knots for most situations you might encounter in the outdoors. We will cover a selection of knots specific to climbing and mountaineering as well as a variety of knots for other activities as well.
INTERMEDIATE ROCK COURSES:
Intermediate Climbing Building off of Basic Climbing, Intermediate Rock Climbing focuses on climbing safety: equipment (and using it properly), communication, belaying, lowering, and rappelling.
Multi-pitch Fundamentals Learn the fundamentals of multi-pitch rock climbing. This class primarily focuses on party of two transitions.
Rock Rescue - Multipitch Rescue skills for mulitpitch terrain. Rocking Seconding is a prerequisite.
Intro to Lead Climbing Learn the skills necessary for lead climbing. This class focuses on sport climbing.
Single Pitch Climbing Learn the skills necessary for rock climbing in Single Pitch terrain. This includes top and bottom-managed rock climbs.
ADVANCED ROCK COURSES:
Advanced Anchors Students will learn about the various types of rock protection, including: passive protection (nuts, hexes) and active protection (cams); and how to place and incorporate pieces of protection into anchors.
Traditional Lead Climbing Learn the basics of traditional climbing. Students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of placing gear on a single pitch, “traditional” rock climb. You’ll learn: how to lead 5th class rock, How to calculate fall factor, impact force, how to determine vector forces on protection, Knots and rigging strategies for anchoring and descent.
Advanced Trad Climbing Clinic Students will learn techniques applicable to advanced trad climbing, including: advanced movement, gear placement, belay transitions, advanced rappelling and descending.
Advanced Multi-pitch Concepts Students will learn techniques applicable to climbing multi-pitch routes, including: preparation, anchors, belaying, cleaning gear, belay transitions, descending, and climbing with a 3-person team.
Rock Rescue - Multi pitch Rescue skills for multi pitch terrain. Rocking Seconding is a prerequisite.