Intro to Trad

Kick Your Climbing Career Off Right

Intro to Trad

Kick Your Climbing Career Off Right

Practice Gear Placement

Anchor Building Techniques

Is This Camp For You?

Intermediate

For those that already lead climb sport and with rope-handling and belay skills, this is the course for you. Difficulty of grade is not important for this course as hard skills will focus on lead trad climbing development. This is not a learn to climb course. This course is designed for those that already sport climb and want to develop their trad skills.
Registration Status:

Open

Details

Before registering, please review our Trip Waivers and Liability, and Cancellation Policies.

Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.

Need help?

Trip Description

Are you comfortable climbing on bolts but lacking the confidence to start leading trad routes independently? Our Intro to Trad Climbing course is designed to help you gain the confidence to climb trad pitches outside. The trad course focuses on gear placement, anchor building, and leading techniques to keep you safe while boosting up your confidence. No matter your background, our Intro to Trad Climbing course will teach you the required skills. Many experienced climbers will tell you that when it comes to safety, it is important to get into the right habits from day one. Taking one of these course will ensure just that. And who better to teach you than long time Bow Valley climber Kris Irwin. Get professional orientation to the spectacular rock climbing on offer in the Bow Valley and kick your lead-climbing career off right this summer with the ACC!

Guides

Guide Selection Pending

Guides for this trip are still being confirmed.

Our guiding team will comprise of ACMG-certified guides with a maximum 6:1 participant to guide ratio to ensure you get sufficient one-on-one coaching. Our guides know the Bow Valley inside out and will be able to recommend future routes and crags to further your skills. The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!

Objectives

We will take you through the skills and decisions you need to be confident when leading trad climbs. From gear, to placements, to anchors, communication and all that lies between, you will come out of this course empowered to expand your horizons. Your “classroom” could be anywhere from the front range crags in Kananaskis all the way through to the “back of the lake” crags at Lake Louise. The climbing areas will be determined by your guide(s) based on a number of factors i.e. weather, distance, group size and dynamics.

Day-by-Day Adventure Itinerary

Saturday
  • Meet at Wasootch Slabs parking in Kananaskis at 8:00 am (MST).
  • Review safety and basic climbing skills.
  • Learn to place and clean gear placements.
  • Progress from top rope, to mock lead to leading .
Sunday
  • Meeting point will be shared on Saturday (day 1).
  • Review lessons from previous day.
  • Further practice on gear placements .
  • Continue progression from mock lead to lead.

Food, Accommodation and Rentals

Food

To keep the cost of this course as low as possible for participants, food will not be provided as part of the course. So please bring along your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (or favored alternative), a packed lunch and some snacks for both days.

Accommodation

If you are traveling from out of town we recommend staying in Canmore. There are various hostels and hotels to choose from including our very own clubhouse with hostel style accommodation. Located on a high bench overlooking the Three Sisters, Ha Ling and Mount Rundle, our purpose built hostel is the perfect place to relax while completing your course.

Rentals

If you don't have everything on the gear list and aren't ready to invest in your own, there are many awesome local businesses that rent out all of the equipment you will need. Be sure to reserve your rentals ahead of time to make sure everything you need is available for you when you need it.

  • Coming from the Bow Valley? Check out GearUp in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!
  • Coming from Calgary? We recommend renting your gear from MEC, the University of Calgary Outdoors Center, or the Norseman.
  • Coming from the Revelstoke? Give Revelstoke Powder Rentals a try.

Included

  • 2 days of instruction from ACMG certified alpine guides.
  • Group gear such as ropes and first aid kit.

Not Included

  • Transportation to and from the field locations.
  • Accommodation.
  • Snacks and lunches.
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Location

Adventure Hazards

Terrain

What are the Risks?

Cornices and crevasses. Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps. Cliffs, creeks,  rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Snowcat roads and road ranks. Fences and other man-made structures. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control. Becoming lost or separated from the group. Slips, trips, and falls. 

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide.

The use of Radios. 

General Hazards

What are the Risks?

Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligent first aid. Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities

Hazard Mitigation

Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk. 

Rockfall and Icefall

What are the Risks?

Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking) 

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated with certified and experienced guides, Helmets 

Falls and Belaying

What are the Risks?

Mountaineering and ice climbing present the risk of falling from the wall causing the climber to collide with the wall or ground which can lead to injury or death. The risk of a belay failure is also present which can contribute to a ground fall.

Hazard Mitigation

Reviewing best practices with the guide.

Equipment checks

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks?

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.

Hazard Mitigation

First Aid / Rescue Training.

Satellite Communications

We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips

You May Also Be Interested In

2019-Sport-Climbing(Pete)-3
Intro to Sport
June 7-8, 2025
Discover
PeterAmann4
Intro to Mountaineering Bow #1
July 4-7, 2025
Discover
2019-Elizabeth-Parker-Hut(Pete)-4
Summer Hiking at Lake O'Hara
August 22-26, 2025
Discover

Additional ski week availability on a per bed basis at Bill Putnam (Fairy Meadow) and Kokanee Glacier Cabin just released for the 24/25 season!

X