Smith Rock – Sport Lead Climbing

This course will run from 9am-5pm.

You will meet your climbing instructor at 9am and hike to the climbing site.

In the morning you will learn about the equipment and skills required for leading outdoor sport climbs.  You will learn about lead belaying, proper clipping technique, and lead climbing safety and get to practice these skills on the rock.

After a lunch break, you will learn how to tie the knots required for sport climbing, how to build sport climbing anchors, and how to safely clean anchors.  Following this lesson, you will have the rest of the afternoon to practice your lead climbing technique and reinforce all the skills you have learned in this course.

You can expect to be back at the parking lot at 5pm.

• This is an intermediate level rock climbing course. Any previous climbing knowledge will enhance your experience, and we request that you have a solid foundation of indoor climbing.
• We recommend you have completed Rock Climbing: Beginner, or possess equivalent experience before registering for Outdoor Sport Lead Climbing.

• Strength ratings on climbing goods
• Understanding of soft goods and hard goods
• Lead belaying technique
• How to catch a lead fall
• Proper clipping technique
• Overhand knot series: knot, bight, follow-through, bend, and flat
• Figure-eight knot series: knot, bight, follow-through, and bend
• Hitches: girth and basket
• Other knots: fisherman series
• Simple, two-bolt EARNEST anchor construction
• Personal anchor strategies
• Proper technique for safely cleaning an anchor

• Eight hours of expert instruction
  
• Kaf Resources
  
• Static rope
  
• Climbing rope
  
• Anchor materials
  
• Quickdraws
  
• Mock-leading practice

• Transportation
  
• Lunch
  
• Personal clothing
  
• Climbing shoes
  
• Harness
  
• Helmet
• Parking

• Kaf will provide what is listed above.
• Please bring your own personal climbing gear, and quickdraws if you have them. This course will give you invaluable time to practice with your own gear.
• You are responsible for clothes that will be comfortable while climbing in all conditions for 8 hours.
• Please bring your own climbing shoes.

Transportation and times will be coordinated by email when the pre-trip announcement is sent to all registrants. The course is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Once you’ve learned to lead sport routes, take the next step in your rock climbing journey and join Kaf for Smith Rock Traditional Climbing Fundamentals. Or explore the world of glaciers with a Glacier Mountaineering Skills course.