Top Rope Anchor Setting for Gym Climbers |Toronto | Ontario | Squamish | Vancouver, BC
Gym to Crag: Top Rope Anchor Setting and Climbing
You have climbed indoors and you want to be able to set up top rope anchors and climb outdoors on your own. This course is specifically designed for you. Taught by a certified instructor, you will learn the necessary skills to manage challenges at the top and bottom of, and on, the cliff.
At the top of the cliff: you will learn to approach the cliff edge safely; build anchors using bolts, trees and rock features; use static rope, webbing and cord to set EARNEST top-rope anchor systems efficiently.
At the bottom of the cliff: you will learn to set up ground anchors, a ground belaying station, belay with both grigri and ATC-type belaying devices, and tie off your belay to free your hands or yourself in case of emergency.
On the cliff: you will learn climbing movements using rock features (a 5.1 route outdoor may be as hard as a 5.7 indoor) and ways to manage loose rock hazards.
Upon completing the course, you will be able to develop a list of equipment to acquire based on your personal preference and be ready to go out to climb on your own.
Some graduates may choose to use webbings for tethering and anchor setting; some may choose static ropes or cords for tethering and anchor setting; some may choose webbing for tethering and ropes for anchor setting or vise versa. The safest material and method you use is the one you feel most comfortable and confident to use!
This course covers many aspects of outddor rock climbing including terrain risk management through tethering and using natural features (trees and rocks) for anchoring, which are not covered in the Sport Lead Climbing and Rappelling course. This course is highly valuable for climbers starting to take their indoor climbing to the outdoors!
"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
"Raz was a conscientious and patient instructor, who tailored the course to our level of ability." -- Katherine Webber, Vancouver, British Columbia
View more testimonials here.
Pre-requisites: Gym rock climbing experience. Outdoor climbing experience is a plus.
Pre-course Prep: We will send you links to a series of video clips to help you prepare for this course. You will need to learn to tie the following knots and hitches before coming to the course: figure 8 knot, figure 8 on a bite, overhand knot, overhand on a bite, water knot, bowline knot, clove hitch, double fisherman's knot, prusik hitch and overhand slip knot. This way, you won't be wasting time on repeatedly learning how to tie these knots during the course. Instead, you will be able to focus on how to use these knots for anchor setting. (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 learn add-on rappelling techniques.)
Duration: 8 hours or more in 1 day (6 or 7 hours or more when only 1 or 2 participants show up and it becomes a private or semi-private session).
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 set up top rope anchors independently for the first time!
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: $475/person + tax (HST in Ontario; GST in British Columbia).
Group Registration Discount:- $390/person, for 2 people
- $360/person, for 3 people
- $330/person, for 4 people
- $300/person, for 5 people
- $275/person, for 6 people
- To look for partners to take this course together, you may post a note on www.facebook.com/zenclimb.
Bookings on the third Saturday of the month receive 15% discount of the above prices.
Add $30/person to include rappelling. Add additional $60/person to learn to set up a two-stage rappel that allows you to use your top-rope anchor to descend to the start of your climb without the need to walk around to it. -- You can add either option anytime on the course day based on your ability to master all the lessons in one long day.
Please email us your desired date(s). We will verify the availability of our instructors and confirm your booking. Thanks!
Refresher: You may elect to re-take this course if you have being away from climbing for an extended period of time. You may also repeat this course to expand your confidence in using different materials and methods for tethering and anchor setting, for instance, if you have been using static rope or cord for tehtering and anchor setting, and want to refresh on using webbing for both. Within 3 years of your participating of this course, either first time or as a refresher, you can re-join this course at $235/person+tax on dates with availabel spots. Please email us for available dates..
Last Minute Deal: For every course we run, we offer 1 spot at $275+tax, 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 November 30, 2022, 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 whenever possible. 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!