The Sharp EndSM

Students Per Instructor: 1 or 2
Course Length: 5 Days (approx. 8 hours per day)
Seasons Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
Alpine Mastery Method: Rock Mastery - Level III
Prerequisites: Anchoring Skills Evaluation

Course Summary: This course teaches you how to lead traditional rock climbs, safely and efficiently. You will learn the skills required to choose and undertake multi-pitch climbs; and what to do if things don’t go as expected.

Reservations

Course Description:
Learning to lead is a serious commitment. This course presents the skills and techniques required for climbing at the business end of the rope; the sharp end. You'll begin leading on the very first day, initially with a top-rope (first-time leaders don't always do things right). Throughout the week you will be exposed to theory followed by extensive practice sessions for each of the many skills and techniques we present.

Included in the list of topics we’ll cover during this course are protection placement, anchoring systems, belay stance design, the psychology of leading, retreat and elementary self-rescue techniques, physics as applied to the static and dynamic forces of climbing (and falling), and equipment characteristics and selection. When we’re satisfied you’re ready (usually on the second day), you’ll lead climbs well within your ability – placing and relying upon your own protection and anchors. By the end of the week, you’ll be leading multi-pitch climbs, followed by your instructor who will provide valuable critique.

Extensive experience in teaching leading has convinced us that five days of instruction and practice is the minimum required to learn to lead safely. And, this is contingent upon students having solid movement skills, well-developed following skills, reliable skills for clean protection placement, and a good grasp of anchoring theory and practice before they learn to lead.

At the end of this course, our Leading Skills Evaluation will provide you with an objective measure of your performance.

This comprehensive course is for confident climbers who can follow multi-pitch climbs of 5.7 or greater difficulty and who have successfully completed our Anchoring Skills Evaluation.