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Crag Climbing - Multipitch Climbing - Bellingham - 2024

Climbing Course

Crag Climbing

Multipitch module of the Crag climbing course for the Bellingham Branch. Priority for this course will be given to Bellingham Branch members.

Contacts

Krissy Fagan
Krissy Fagan
Leader
Eric Henry
Eric Henry
Leader

Course Description
The Crag Climbing course is designed to teach the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to safely lead multipitch sport or traditional routes on outdoor crags. This is one module of the overall Crag Climbing course and it may be taken independently or in conjunction with the 2 other modules, Leading Sport Climbs and Leading Trad Routes, as a series.

Eligibility
The course is open to climbers age 18 and over. Prerequisites include the ability to lead climb 5.8 sport and/or lead climb 5.7 trad, and rappelling. Knowledge of basic climbing knots, safe belay technique and setting and cleaning sport anchors is also required. Students of the Crag Course: Leading Sport or Crag Course: Leading Trad preferred but not required. Acceptance is based on meeting the course's prerequisites. Other factors considered are based on past and current climbing experience. Students are screened to select those with the highest potential for course completion. The class size will be limited to 6 QUALIFIED applicants.

DOWNLOAD THE CRAG COURSE APPLICATION HERE. 

Please make sure that you are available for ALL field trip dates prior to sending your application. Students are required to be present for ALL field trips and lectures and there are no opportunities for make up. Please note this course requires each student to own or have access to their own rack of climbing gear.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Lecture and skill practice
Bellingham YMCA
Wed, Sep 11, 2024
Registration closes Sep 9
2 participants
3 instructors
Eric Henry
Leading on Rock 1 Field Trip
Squamish
Sat, Sep 14, 2024 -
Sun, Sep 15, 2024
Registration closes Sep 12
2 participants
1 instructor
Eric Henry

Additional badges needed to graduate

Completed

Roster
Required Equipment

Gear each student MUST HAVE for Class - Pro will be available for the class:

  1. Helmet, harness, rock shoes
  2. 1 personal anchoring device with a locking carabiner
  3. Auto blocking belay device with locking belay carabiner
  4. TRAD multipitch: 4 Alpine slings 60cm, 2 Alpine slings 120cm, 12 standard sized carabiners, nut tool
  5. SPORT multipitch: 8 quickdraws 
  6. 3 locking carabiners in addition to the others already mentioned (standard sized)
  7. Small water hydration pack with water pouch and enough room for food and warm layers.
  8. 20' Cordalette.  This can be made out of 20' of 7 mm Nylon Cord,
  9. A knife and first aid kit

 Gear will be discussed at first class. Bring what you have but do not purchase new before class

For your own climbing after class you will need:

  1. Trad climbers: Set of Cams - one cam each matching the following Black Diamond sizes: .3, .4, .5, .75 #1, #2, #3
  2. One carabiner (7 total) for each cam to rake them (these do not need to be full size)
  3. Set of Nuts/stoppers,
  4. A rope

You will be climbing in groups of 2 when you go out to do your multi pitch routes and will be combining your gear to make one full rack and sharing these items as your climb.  Please make sure to purchase 2 to 3 colors of electricians tape or duck tape and mark ALL your gear.  You can find this tape online or at Home Depot.  We will be discussing gear and have some brands on hand for your review at the kick-off party so if you have questions you may hold off purchasing gear until afterward.  

Optional Gear you will want to consider:

  1. Ropes will be provided for this course but if you plan to continue climbing after the course you will need to purchase a light weight 60-70m 9.4-9.8 rope. 
  2. Light weight approach shoes.  Many multi pitch climbs have walk-offs so you will need to have a good pair of shoes to hike in and off. You will need to carry these shoes on the climb with you, so the lighter the better. FiveTen brand has a couple of really nice models--their Guide Tennie and the Warhawk are a couple of examples.
  3. Additional set of small Cams. The recommended set of MUST have Cams is meant to cover most bases and not overwhelm your budget. However you will very quickly find that having a set of cams in the smaller range of sizes gives you more options and is much needed so if you can afford to purchase these cams to start with it would be highly advised.
  4. Having some light weight warm layers that can stuff down very small inside of a pack or attached to a harness can be essential.  Sometimes on multi pitch climbs you can end up on belay stations waiting for a very long time and it can get very cold/hot depending on the weather so you need to be prepared with appropriate clothing options for your safety and comfort.  We'll discuss gear more at the kick off party.
  5. 2 short runners ( 30cmx8mm)
  6. 2 Pearbiners (aka HMS) for master point, belay and rappel
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.