$295
$295
You’re comfortable climbing in the gym. Now it’s time to take those skills outside. Outdoor climbing introduces terrain, hazards, equipment, communication, and decision-making that simply don’t exist in a climbing gym. This full-day rock climbing course is designed for indoor climbers who are ready to begin climbing on real rock and want to understand how outdoor climbing actually works. Throughout the day, you’ll climb while learning the fundamental systems, equipment, rope management, movement skills, hazards, and decision-making used at the crag. This is more than a guided climbing day. The focus is on helping you build the skills and understanding needed to continue progressing as an outdoor climber. Indoor climbing experience is recommended. No previous outdoor climbing experience is required.
Who This Course Is For
This is a rock climbing class for people who already climb, but only indoors. If you can tie in, belay a partner, and move confidently on gym walls but have never climbed outside, this is the course built for you. You are not starting from zero on movement or belaying. You are starting from zero on everything the gym does for you invisibly: the anchors, the loose rock, the route-finding, the weather, the rope management, the descent.
Complete beginners are welcome and the day can be adapted, but the curriculum below assumes you have spent time in a gym.
The Outdoor Climbing Environment
Outdoor climbing requires greater awareness of the terrain and environment around you. You’ll learn about:
- Differences between gym and outdoor climbing
- Common crag hazards
- Loose rock and rockfall awareness
- Finding and identifying climbing routes
- Weather and changing mountain conditions
- Crag etiquette
- Responsible use of climbing areas
Outdoor Climbing Equipment
Learn how outdoor climbing equipment differs from the typical gym setup and how the different pieces are used. Topics include:
- Outdoor climbing ropes
- Helmets
- Belay devices
- Locking and non-locking carabiners
- Slings and anchor materials
- Quickdraws
- Basic outdoor climbing equipment
- Organizing equipment at the crag
Knots, Communication, and Partner Checks
Good outdoor climbing starts with good systems and clear communication. You’ll practice:
- Figure-eight follow-through
- Clove hitch
- Basic friction hitch
- Partner safety checks
- Outdoor climbing commands
- Communication between climber and belayer
Outdoor Belaying and Rope Management
Belaying outside requires more awareness of terrain, rope position, other climbers, and the environment. We’ll cover:
- Belay positioning
- Rope management
- Catching falls
- Lowering climbers
- Managing the rope around rocks and terrain
- Keeping ropes organized at the base of the climb
Movement on Real Rock
Natural rock is very different from manufactured climbing holds. We’ll work on:
- Footwork and balance
- Recognizing and using natural holds
- Friction climbing
- Face-climbing techniques
- Introduction to crack-climbing movement
- Reading a route from the ground
- Moving efficiently on natural terrain
Introduction to Top-Rope Systems and Anchors
Learn the fundamental concepts behind outdoor top-rope climbing systems. Topics include:
- Understanding climbing anchors
- Recognizing and evaluating fixed anchors
- Basic redundancy
- Understanding load direction
- Setting up a simple top-rope system
- Protecting ropes from edges and abrasion
- Managing a top-rope climbing area
This section is an introduction to outdoor climbing systems and anchors, not a complete anchor-building course.
Cleaning and Descending
Getting down safely is an essential part of climbing outside. We’ll introduce:
- Lowering versus rappelling
- Cleaning climbing systems
- Basic rappelling
- Rappel backups
- Rope management during descents
- Common descent mistakes and how to avoid them
By the end of the day, you should have a much better understanding of how outdoor climbing works and practical experience with the fundamental skills used at the crag. You should leave with a clearer understanding of:
- How outdoor climbing differs from gym climbing
- How to recognize common climbing hazards
- How basic outdoor climbing systems function
- How to communicate effectively with a climbing partner
- How to manage ropes and equipment outdoors
- Basic top-rope concepts
- Basic rappelling and descent procedures
- What skills you need to continue developing
This course provides a foundation. Becoming an independent outdoor climber requires continued practice, experience, good judgment, and additional instruction as your climbing progresses.
The exact climbing location is selected on the day based on weather, climbing conditions, student experience, and course objectives.
- Little Cottonwood Canyon: Wasatch granite, 25 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City
- Big Cottonwood Canyon: quartzite, well-suited to top-rope instruction
- American Fork Canyon: limestone sport climbing, Utah County
- Rock Canyon, Provo: quartzite and limestone sport climbing.
- Our season begins in April and ends in October, depending on snowfall.
- This is a private course. There will be a maximum of 4 students per guide.
- Duration: Full day, approximately 8 hours
- Location: Wasatch Mountains, Utah
- Experience: Indoor climbing experience recommended. No previous outdoor climbing experience required.
- Maximum ratio: 4 climbers per guide
- Equipment: Technical climbing equipment provided as needed
- Season: April through October, depending on snowfall
Private Course Pricing
Private courses are available throughout the climbing season based on guide availability and conditions.
- 1 climber: $535
- 2 climbers: $375 per person
- 3 climbers: $325 per person
- 4 climbers: $295 per person
FAQs
Indoor climbing experience is recommended. If you can tie in, belay, and move comfortably on gym walls, you are the climber this course is written for. No previous outdoor climbing experience is required, and complete beginners can be accommodated. Tell us where you are when you book.
The movement is the smallest part of it. Outdoors you deal with real anchors instead of pre-hung top ropes, loose rock and rockfall, route-finding, weather, rope management over edges and terrain, and a descent you have to plan. The gym handles all of that for you. This course is about what happens when it doesn’t.
No. Technical climbing equipment is provided as needed. Guests should bring: climbing shoes, harness, approach footwear, water, layers. Climbing helmet, harness, and shoes are available for rental.
You will learn to recognize and evaluate fixed anchors, understand redundancy and load direction, and set up a simple top-rope system. This is an introduction to outdoor systems, not a complete anchor-building course. That is covered in the Learn to Lead Climb Outside course and the Rock Climbing Mentorship Program.
Yes. Basic rappelling, rappel backups, lowering versus rappelling, and rope management on descent are all covered.
In the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City. The specific crag is chosen on the day based on weather, conditions, and the group’s experience.
April through October, depending on snowfall
Absolutely!
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