Intro to trad climbing course
A course for climbers who want to move from sport climbing to trad climbing with an organised base. We practise placing and evaluating protection, extending pieces, anchors, gear organisation, crack reading and basic protection judgement.
Training starts at the base of the route so you can place cams and nuts without pressure, compare placements and understand what makes protection reliable. Then we move into more realistic situations where body position, load direction, rope drag and speed of gear organisation matter.
We also cover clean anchors, equalisation, extension, communication, removing gear and common mistakes when transitioning from sport climbing. The goal is to build clear criteria before entering longer or more committing trad routes.
Course curriculum
- Placing and assessing cams and nuts
- Extending placements, rope drag and gear organisation
- Clean anchors, crack reading and retreat judgement
Key highlights
- Cams and nuts
- Protection assessment
- Clean anchors
- Transition from sport climbing
FAQ
Do I need sport climbing experience first?
Yes. You should know how to belay, lead climb and understand basic systems before adding protection placements and clean anchors.
What gear do we use?
We work with cams, nuts, long slings, carabiners, anchor material and rope systems. The technical gear needed for practice is provided during the course.
Will I learn to place reliable protection?
The course teaches criteria for placing, assessing and comparing protection, but real reliability requires progressive practice and frequent review on suitable terrain.