Instructional Courses
Instructional courses are aimed at developing your personal climbing
skills. This includes both the technical skills associated with rope-work,
belaying and gear placements for example but also the coaching of movement
skills and climbing techniques which will enable you to climb better and
more safely. The low ratios on all courses ensure a highly personalised
service and allow the instructors to make sure you develop at a pace appropriate
for you. Instructors always aim to teach in a realistic situation with
as much learning as possible done while actually climbing. In doing so
we maximise the time spent climbing and “doing” and minimise
time spent standing around listening. We also never forget that climbing
is a fun activity, that should be enjoyable as well as exciting.
Whatever your level - first time climber or regular leader struggling
to break through to the next grade, we can help you improve.
Intro Rock
General Outline: For anyone keen to try rock climbing
for the first time.
Minimum Pre-requirements: Good level of general fitness.
No previous climbing experience neccesary.
Course Length: 2-5 days
Content: A comprehensive introduction to the sport.
Covers: belaying, tying on, ropework, movement skills and techniques,
abseiling, guidebooks, route selection, grades, anchor selection and
construction, equipment selection and lots of actual climbing. How to
develop and progress after leaving the course. We will visit single
pitch crags and depending on course length could include the opportunity
to second multi-pitch routes, outdoor bouldering and indoor wall sessions
to develop movement skills.
Max Ratio: 1:2
Moving On
General Outline: For those with some climbing experience
(indoors or outside) looking to progress.
Minimum Pre-requirements: Able to put harness on,
tie on, belay and climb easy routes on a top rope.
Course Length: 2-5 days
Content: The exact content will depend on your level
of experience but could include: setting up top and bottom rope systems
on single pitch crags in simple and complex situations. Stance and rope
management on multi pitch climbs. Movement skills and techniques. Anchor
selection and judgment. Safeguarding abseil descents. Racking equipment.
Mental and physical preparation for that first lead. Equipment selection
and maintenance. Lots of climbing. How to develop and progress after
leaving the course. Depending on the course length we hope to visit
single and multi-pitch crags and include indoor and outdoor bouldering
sessions to develop technique.
Max Ratio: 1:2
Lead Climb
General Outline: An introduction to lead climbing.
Minimum Pre-requirements: A competent second able
to belay and remove runners. Able to second routes within your ability
calmly and in control.
Course Length: 2-5 days
Content: There is more to leading than just “getting
on the sharp end”. As such this course covers belaying from above
and below, stance management, anchor selection and judgement, guidebooks
route selection and the grading system. Route finding, resting and strategies
for leading. Descent from multi-pitch crags. There is no guarantee that
individuals will lead on this course, the instructor needs to be convinced
that you are mentally and physically prepared and understand the risks
involved. The instructor will generally be on a rope along-side you
but cannot guarantee that you will not take a genuine leader fall. Lead
climbing is very much a partnership between leader and second, and having
complete trust in your belayer is an important factor. If you have a
friend and regular partner it is beneficial if you can attend the course
together.
Max Ratio: 1:2
Rescue Systems
General Outline: Learn what to do when things don’t
go quite as planned!
Minimum Pre-requirements: A competent second able
to construct equalised belays.
Course Length: 2-5 days
Content: The exact content will depend on the length
of the course and your level of experience. The basics include: tying
off a belay plate, ascending ropes, escaping the system. More complex
scenarios include: assisted and un-assisted hoists of injured climbers,
rescuing injured climbers off a traverse, evacuating conscious and unconscious
casualties off multi-pitch crags and/or sea-cliffs.
Max Ratio: 1:2
One Day Specials
In general all courses benefit from being at least 2 days in duration.
This allows plenty of time to consolidate new skills and still leaves
time for plenty of actual climbing. If however you really can only spare
one day it is possible to offer a shortened version of the above courses
(with the exception of Lead Climb) with the understanding that it is
not possible to cover as much in such a short time. If there is one
specific thing you want to improve at let us know and we can work on
that.
Max Ratio: Dependant on course content.
Guided Climbing
Climb some of the classic rock climbs in the UK. For a small island Britain
has an incredibly diverse range of styles of climbing on a wide variety
of rock types. It also has an incredibly rich history with first ascentionists
of each generation vying with each other for the best lines of the day.
The stories, legends and colourful characters of British climbing help
create an aura surrounding the classic routes which increases our desire
to climb them. Atmospheric sea-cliffs requiring abseil descents and encounters
with vomiting sea birds. High mountain crags set in dramatic mountain
landscapes above shimmering lakes and tarns. The sculptured forms and
hold-less frictional technicalities of the gritstone edges. The match-stick
edges, high rock-overs and bold run-outs of slate routes set in the magical
and timeless world of the long-abandoned slate quarries. Remote Scottish
sea-stacks that require a knowledge of tides and tyroleans (or someone
prepared to get wet!). There are many reasons why you may opt for a guided
ascent. You may no longer have suitable partner/s for your objectives.
There may be climbs that you have always had the desire to climb but have
always eluded you. Or you may just enjoy getting lots of mileage in and
letting someone else do the leading and make the decisions.
Whatever your reason, let us know your dreams and we will help
you to realise them.
North Wales Classics
General Outline: The opportunity to second many of
the classic routes of North Wales.
Minimum Pre-requirements: A competent second able
to belay and remove runners. Able to second routes within your ability
calmly and in control.
Course Length: 1-5 days
Content: North Wales has many of the most famous routes
in the UK right through the grade range. Possible suggestions could
include:
Tremadog:
Christmas Curry (S), One Step in the Clouds (VS), Scratch
Arete (VS), Barbarian (E1), Vector (E2).
Cryn Las:
Main Wall (HS), The Grooves (E1), Overhanging Arete (E2).
Cloggy:
Pigott’s Climb (VS), Longland’s Climb (VS),
Llithrig (E1), Shrike (E2).
Gogarth:
Rap (VS), Dream of White Horses (HVS), Gogarth (E1),
The Strand (E2).
Dinas Cromlech:
Flying Buttress (VD), Sabre Cut (VS), Cenotaph Corner
(E1), Left Wall (E2).
Cwm Idwal:
Hope (VD), Tennis Shoe (S), Lazarus (S), Suicide Wall
(E2).
Dinas Mot:
The Cracks (HS), Direct Route (VS), Diagonal (HVS).
Slate:
Seamstress (HVS), Fool’s Gold (E1), Pull My Daisy
(E2).
Max Ratio: 1:2
UK Classics
General Outline: The opportunity to second many of
the classic routes anywhere in the UK.
Minimum Pre-requirements: A competent second able
to belay and remove runners. Able to second routes within your ability
calmly and in control.
Course Length: 1-5 days
Content: Is there a crag or climbing area you have
always wanted to visit but never got around to? Let us help you fulfill
those ambitions. How about the Old Man of Hoy and other Scottish sea-stacks?
The adventurous sea-cliffs of Devon and Cornwall or classic mountain
routes in the Lake District? Get out Ken Wilson’s coffee table
books - Classic Rock and Hard
Rock and start planning some adventure.
Max Ratio: 1:2
Further Information
Equipment Provided by Climb-Mountains. We will provide
all technical equipment for climbing, including ropes, rack and helmet
and harness for each client. If you have your own helmet and harness you
are encouraged to bring them but your instructor will need to check to
make sure they are in serviceable condition.
What you need to provide. You will need to provide suitable
warm clothing for the time of year, a full set of waterproofs (top and
trousers), walking boots or trainers for the approach to the crag and
your own rock shoes. You will also need a rucksack (30 - 40 litre capacity)
and food and drink for the day.
Prices. A list of all prices can be found here.
What is not included. Prices do not include, transport,
accommodation, meals or insurance.
Ratios and course sizes. Climbing is best done in teams
of 2. For the Instructional Courses the ideal is therefore 2 clients to
1 instructor. Instruction can be arranged for an individual 1:1 but this
does limit some of the things that can be covered. For example when the
instructor is teaching the client how to belay, there really needs to
be a third person climbing on the end of the rope for it to be a realistic
exercise. If there is 3 or more in a group we would normally insist that
there would be 2 or more instructors. However if you really want to stay
as a group it is possible for the instructor to safely work with a larger
ratio providing that it is understood that the range of available activities
will be limited. If this is likely to be the case please contact us for
further information. Guided climbing is slightly different and it is possible
to work at both 1:1 and 1:2.
Something Different. If you have something in mind which
is not covered on these pages please get in touch so we can discuss it.
