Learn To | Sport Lead Climbing | Clean A Route |Rappel | Multi-pitch | Toronto | Ontario | Squamish | Vancouver, BC
Sport Lead Climbing and Rappelling - Single-pitch and Multi-pitch
You can choose to take the One-day Option of this course to learn sport lead climbing in a single pitch setting, or the Two-day Option to add learning of multi-pitch lead climbing and rappelling techniques!
The One-day Option course teaches all the required skills for leading bolted sport climbing single-pitch routes, including belaying and leading techniques, cleaning a route, equipment use and choice, stick clipping, falling, and 3 common setups at the top anchors for lead climbers to descent the route.
The Two-day Option course teaches multi-pitch sport lead climbing and rappelling techniques, to enable you to climb long routes, and super long routes, and then descend through multi-pitch rappelling. Sounds exciting! eh?
Rappelling is an integrate part of the skillset for a climber who indents to go on climbing trips. Rappelling down is preferred/needed/required when the top anchors are two cold shuts (like carabineers) and the metal has been partially cut by moving ropes in lowering mode over the years. Rappelling can help save the anchors. (You don't want to be the last person lowering from an anchor before it is cut through.)
We will review the evolution of rappelling techniques, pros and cons for each, so you will have confidence in using the most current technique recommended by American Mountain Guides Associaiton and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
Video Lessons Advantage: Pre-view and Review
Participants have access to pre-view key video lessons of this course before their course date, so that they can quickly master the necessary skills on their in-person course day. Participants can also review the video lessons afterwards to help refresh their memory and practice the skills.
It is absolutely doable to learn to lead outdoor without indoor leading experience. Many of our clients took this approach and, after completing this course, passed the indoor lead test in their local climbing gyms.
"I really enjoyed the two courses (including this one) I took with Zen Climb. Xiaoping is an excellent instructor. He maintains safety as the top priority, ensuring clients learn everything they need to know to stay safe on the mountain. He is very patient and takes the time to review lessons as many times as needed. In particular, I appreciated his concern about "skills fade" among course graduates. He created opportunities for course graduates to get together for outdoor climbing (at no cost). Thanks to Xiaoping, I have increased confidence on the rock and new partners to climb with." -- Gillian Batt, Toronto, Ontario (Oct. 31, 2012)
Pre-requisites: Able to climb top rope at 5.10 level indoor or 5.8 level outdoor.
Required Equipment: You need to bring a climbing rope for you (or your) group to lead, a set of minimum 6 quickdraws, two 60cm (24") slings (runners) with two non-locking carabiners, a belay device such as a grigri.
Pre-course Prep: We will send you a prep-document with links to a series of video clips to help you prepare for this course. This prep-document will help you choose the above required equipment to purchase. You are encouraged to follow the video clips to practice the skills and techniques as much as you can before comimng to the course. This helps you speed up your learning curve on the cliff. (Near the end of the course, while under-prepared participants may feel a bit information overload since a brain can only work so hard for so many hours, adequately prepared participants may still have the mental capacity to add the learning of foundamental multipitch leading and rappelling techniques.)
Duration:
- One-day option: Sport Lead Climbing (single pitch);
- Two-day option: Sport Lead Climbing + Multipitch Lead Climbing and Rappelling
Post-course Review: You will have access to a series video clips to review key lessons of the course for a limited time period. This helps you consolidate your learning, so you can feel even more confident to return to the cliff to lead a sport route with your climbing partner and rappel on your own.
Location in Ontario: Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, 7200 Appleby Line, Milton, Ontario
Location in British Columbia: Smok Bluffs Park, 38551 Loggers Ln, Squamish, British Columbia
For more information, please view Itinerary, Facility, Equipment, Preparation and FAQ
Fees for One-day Option : $435/person + tax (HST in Ontario; GST in British Columbia).
Group Registration Discount:- $375/person, for 2 people
- $345/person, for 3 people
- $320/person, for 4 people
- $300/person, for 5 people
- $285/person, for 6 people
Fees for Two-day Option : $715/person + tax (HST in Ontario; GST in British Columbia).
Group Registration Discount:- $630/person, for 2 people
- $600/person, for 3 people
- $570/person, for 4 people
- $540/person, for 5 people
- $515/person, for 6 people
Receive 15% discount off the above rates if you are certified to lead in a gym. (Please have your gym staff email us through their work email address to confirm your certification. Thanks.)
Bookings on the fourth Saturday (One-day option) or the fourth Saturday and Sunday (Two-day Option) of the month receive further 15% discount of the total from the above.
Please email us your desired date(s). We will verify the availability of our instructors and confirm your booking. Thanks!
Last Minute Deal: For every course we run, we offer 1 spot at $295+tax for the One-day Option, and 1 spot for the Two-day option, pending availability. To take this deal, please submit the following registration and wirte "Las Minute Deal" in your email Subject line. After we have received your payment, we will put your name on the priority list. Whenever we have a spot available, we will notify the top three people on the priority list by email on the day before the course date. The first person responds with acceptance will take the spot. If by the end of the year, you are not able to attend your registered course, you will be refunded with your full payment minus $5.
Equity Fund $100: We strive to allocate one spot for a person who is experiencing financial hardship to take this course. If taking this course will have a significant positive impact in your life and, without this $100 support you won't take this course, we will apply this $100 to your course fee. All you need to do is to participate in the Last Minute Deal and in your registration email mention that you need the Equity Fund $100 to take this course. We will email you when a spot becomes available.
Covid-19 Related Procedures: We will follow the current provincial and local park guidelines.
Register:
Please email 
to provide the following informaiton:
- Your name, address and contact phone number;
- The number of people in your group. If there're minors in the group, indicate their age;
- Name of the course your group is registering;
- The location where you will take the course: A) Rattlesnake Point, B) Smok Bluffs Park.
- Your preferred date(s).
By submitting the above information, you agree to our Booking Conditions and Cancellation Policy.
Booking Conditions:
All participants are required to read, understand and sign this waiver of liability. Those under the age of 18 years must have a parent or legal guardian co-sign their waiver. The minimum age to participate is 12.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation must be made 30 days prior to the start of the program in order to receive a 50% refund. Otherwise, no refund will be issued. You may transfer your reservation to another person within one week of the program (course, camp or retreat) start date. The administrative cost for this is $45 per person or, $145 per person after instructional video clips have been sent to you or your group.
Nature tests us and nurtures us. Zen Climb may at its sole discretion reschedule or cancel a booked program due to extreme risky weather conditions or other factors justifiable by Zen Climb. In the event of such a cancellation, we will notify you the cancellation the day before the start of the program. You may reschedule and attend the same or similar course/program within six months or receive a 50% refund. If you did not receive a cancellation call from us, assume the program will run as scheduled.
Privacy Policy:
We take the protection and proper use of your personal information seriously. We respect your privacy, and take great care to safeguard information in our possession. For your peace of mind, please read our Privacy Policy in its entirety. Thanks!