Learning to lead climb outdoors is an exciting and empowering thing! Once you are able to comfortably lead a climb, you are able to explore new terrain and climbing areas. This 2-day course will help you transition from being a competent top-rope climber to a lead-climbing rock star. The goal here is to help you build confidence, and make progress in outdoor climbing with the help of some technical skills.

Lead climbing outside is all about route reading, body position, and specific technical skills. Under the watchful eye of your guide and instructor, you’ll get on the fly feedback as well as the chance to play with new skills. We’ll cover the proper way to clip quick draws, basic anchor building, how to clean an anchor, and how to safely bail off of a route. Once you’ve completed this course, you will be ready to lead on your own outdoors!

Another important component of lead climbing outdoors is giving your partner a solid belay. We get it, if you’re used to top-roping, lead belaying might seem a little bit tricky. But with the guidance of our instructors, we will show you how easy it can be. Giving the perfect belay not only makes your day easier and safer, but it will also keep your climbing partners feeling confident so they can climb their best. Everyone loves a nice soft catch.

There is plenty of sport climbing near Denver, and we can get you out there clipping bolts! This course will show you the necessary skills need to lead sport routes. Everything from back-clipping to bailing off a route is covered in this two day course. The goal is for you to walk away with the skills and confidence to lead a route by yourself. There are many chances within this course to practice skills, ask questions, and work through common problems while leading.

This is a hands on class where you will have plenty of time to practice, ask questions, and apply skills in new ways.  Instructor demonstrations coupled with hands on experience is a great way to put it all together. Practice makes perfect and we guarantee there will be lots of time to hone your leading skills under the watchful eye of professionally trained and certified guides and instructors.

This Learn to Lead Climb course is an excellent prerequisite for other courses such as our Intro to Trad and Intro to Mountaineering courses.

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Prerequisites:

Participants should be able to comfortably climb 5.8 outdoors on a top rope as well as have experience with basic climbing systems such as belaying.

If you’re not quite there yet, our Beginner Climbing Tour and Gym to Crag courses are an excellent way to get up to speed.