SheJumps x AAI | Intro to Trad Climbing | Leavenworth | WA
**This course is being offered in partnership between SheJumps and Alpine Ascents. Please visit the Alpine Ascents Regisration Page to register. Registration MUST be completed through AAI. This page is intended only to promote the event. This course costs $500.**
When you register, please note “SheJumps” in the “Notes for Program Staff” section.
Our 2-day Intro to Trad Climbing course is an excellent next step for graduates of our Learn to Lead and Multipitch Climbing courses or for experienced sport climbers who are looking to transition into climbing and leading with gear. A traditional, or “trad” climber is akin to a carpenter. They have a tool kit which can contain many different types of protection – cams, nuts, hexes, and the list goes on. Knowing when, where, and how to place gear for maximum security and efficiently is an art that climbers develop over time. Our goal in this course is get you started in this practice, teaching you fundamental climbing skills that you can build upon in your future climbing adventures.
Primarily, we are going to focus on placing trad gear efficiently and securely, while developing an eye for “reading a route” and protection strategies. After taking this course, you will have the tools and experience to confidently and efficiently follow traditional climbs outside, build gear anchors, rack up appropriately for trad climbs, and begin to lead climbs on gear.
We often use Leavenworth as a classroom for this course, which is located about 2.5 hours outside Seattle. We love this location for the exceptional rock quality, variety of climbs, and quick approaches. Proximity to the fun faux Bavarian village of Leavenworth and the apres climb beer and bratwurst scene doesn’t hurt either.
Prerequisites
Climbers should be able to climb 5.8 on top rope, be extremely familiar with top rope and lead belaying, rappelling, building anchors, and have a good grasp of the following climbing knots and hitches:
- Figure-8 Follow-Through
- Figure-8 on a Bite
- Overhand knot
- Clove-hitch
- Munter-Mule hitch
- Kleimheist hitch
- Prussik hitch
- Overhand flat bend
Skills Covered
- Equipment selection
- Gear placement principals
- Following single pitch trad climbs
- Mock leading single pitch trad climbs
- Racking gear as a leader and follower
- Belayer and climber communication
- Terrain assessment
- LNT principles and climbing ethics
- Route identification
For any additional questions about the course please contact Alpine Ascents International at Climb@AlpineAscents.com.
**This course is being offered in partnership between SheJumps and Alpine Ascents. Please visit the Alpine Ascents Regisration Page to register. Registration MUST be completed through AAI. This page is intended only to promote the event. This course costs $500.**
When you register, please note “SheJumps” in the “Notes for Program Staff” section.
Please note that the course cost does not include guide gratuities. You are under no obligation to tip the guides, but 10-15% of the course cost is highly recommended. The guides pool tips and accept cash or Venmo. We recommend tipping $50-$75 for this course.
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All participants must sign the SheJumps Participant Waiver prior to participating in this event. Participants must also sign the Alpine Ascents International Waiver.
To prioritize the health of our community, please do not attend a SheJumps event if you are experiencing any cold-like symptoms.
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Cancellation Policy
Please reference the Alpine Ascents International website for information about cancellations.
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SheJumps increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities to foster confidence, leadership, and connection to nature and community through free and low-cost outdoor education.
SheJumps is an inclusive organization. We welcome all women and girls—transgender and cisgender, as well as non-binary people.
SheJumps strives to fight against racism and acknowledges that our events and programs take place on traditional, unceded Indigenous lands.
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