Outdoor Climbing Course

Course Overview - What you will do:

• climb a wide variety of routes to experience climbing on 'real rock'
• learn new movement skills to climbs routes of different nature
• learn the essential rope work to protect yourself and your partner when climbing outdoors
• learn to use the technical climbing equipment to set up safe top anchors & top ropes

Who is it for:

individuals, couples, families and groups. The focus of this course can be customised. Climbing many different routes, learning about rope work & safety or a mixture of both.

Course duration:

For this course, we offer the following options:

Full day & multiple days: meet at 9:00 - back at 16:00

Half days: morning: meet at 9:00 - back at 12:30 / afternoon: meet at 13:00 - back at 16:30 / evening: meet 16:30 - back at 20:00

Locations:

Snowdonia & the coast of North Wales: Colwyn Bay, Betws-y-Coed, Porthmadog, Llanberis, Holyhead and Bethesta. We will consider your location, the weather conditions and your time availability to decide on the best climbing venue.

You will need to bring:

• a rucksack to carry your personal belongings & some climbing equipment
• suitable clothing & footwear to stay comfortable in the mountains & sea cliffs
• food & drink

Indoor vs Outdoor climbing:

Climbing outdoors is far more intricate and involving than climbing inside at a climbing wall. It might feel slightly disconcerting when you first try it. More emphasis is needed on precise footwork, body position and planning ahead. It is physically a lot more subtle and mentally much more demanding than climbing in an indoor wall

Personal climbing techniques need to be expanded because climbing outdoors is not just about pulling on crimps; you will need to learn to climb sloping cracks, smeary slabs and even the odd chimney. The character of the rock outside generally offers more potential solutions to climbing a particular section, but knowing which of those solutions to choose is dependant on experience.

There is also a greater need to think ahead and read the rock, looking for alternatives and planning gear placements / rest positions. Overall, climbing outdoors is more demanding, more involving, but also a lot more rewarding.

The skills mentioned above can be taught in a variety of environments depending on level of experience and aspirations. Single pitch, multi pitch, routes with bolt protection or routes that need traditional climbing equipment.