Details
Pricing: $225/climber; min. of three climbers
Note: If there are less than 3 climbers, we can run the course with the below pricing schedule. Since we understand that the increase in price can be a barrier, refunds and rescheduling options are available for climbers who do not want to go on the trip with less than 3 climbers.
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2 climbers - $300/climber
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1 climber - $475/climber
Course Length: 2 days | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (16 hrs.)
Course Size: 1:6 guide-to-client ratio with a maximum number of 6 clients
Instructor: Instructed by a certified American Mountain Guide Association Single Pitch Instructor
Course Location: Birdsboro Rock Quarry, a retired quarry that has been transformed into a Sport Climbing mecca and destination for mid-Atlantic climbers. Birdsboro, or "The Bird" for short, iso ne of Pennsylvania's most accessible Sport Climbing crags with nearly 150 routes that range in difficulty from 5.0 to 5.14. The rock climbing at The Bird start in 1993 and is currently maintained and funded by the Birdsboro Area Climbers Association.
Lodging Option: French Creek State Park (campgrounds, cottages, modern cabins, yurts)
Special Note: The Intro to Sport Climbing course is not certification a course
Recommended Experience:
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Familiarity with the following climbing knots and hitches: figure 8 follow-through, figure 8 on a bight, double fisherman, clove hitch, prussic, auto block, klemheist. Please refer to AnimatedKnots.com for reference.
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Ability to top-rope climb 5.7
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solid top rope belaying technique
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Prior anchor building experience (at a minimum, familiar with anchor building concepts)
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VTS Climbing Anchors 101 courses or similar experience
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Prior outdoor rock climbing and rappelling
Day 1
Day 1 consists of mostly ground school where climbers practice clipping draws to hangers, practice clipping rope to draws, build, and evaluate other participants' anchors and simulate cleaning and retreating from anchors and sport climbs. Day 1 usually ends with at least 1 mock sport lead (sport leading under a top-rope belay scenario) and you'll also get to practice lead falling. The Instructor delivers and reviews a lot of information on day 1; it can be difficult to retain the information and apply the skills and techniques by yourself. Hence, day 2, the reinforcement day.
Day 2
Day 2 begins with a review that transitions into a Question, Answer & Demonstration session. The day progresses with participants lead belaying and mock sport lead climbing for most of the day. Day 2 is all about building confidence.
Topics Covered
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Review of climbing knots
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Route development
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Lead climbing strategies
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Rope management
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Belaying the leader
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Belayer and climber communication
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Lead falls
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Confident clipping
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Climbing movement
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Building and cleaning sport anchors
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Retreating from and cleaning a sport climb
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Risk management
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In-depth review of sport climbing gear
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LNT principles and climbing ethics
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Guide books and route identification
