Flash Foxy - Multi Pitch 101 - Smith Rock, OR

CLIMBER REQUIREMENTS: Must know how to belay someone lead climbing. Some experience lead climbing (sport or trad) is required. Participants have led a minimum of 5 climbs (sport or trad). Must be able to comfortably top rope 5.9 indoors or 5.6 at the course venue. COURSE DESCRIPTION: *This is a 2-day course. Flash Foxy’s Multi-pitch 101 course equips climbers with the know-how to climb and descend from routes longer than one rope-length. This course covers essentials like building multi-pitch anchors, taking the roles of leader and follower, rappelling from a multi-pitch route, staying safe and organized during transitions at anchors, and solving basic problems on routes. Our instructors will provide low-risk environments for practice and review the skills you need to continue your practice after the course. We’ll also discuss navigation, what to bring, and how to plan for your adventures. This is a skills-intensive course, and we’ll focus on learning fundamentals on the ground, then practicing those skills in a low-risk vertical setting with review and feedback from our instructors. Most of our course time will be spent working on skills with very little rock climbing, so come prepared with comfortable but capable shoes! LEARNING OUTCOMES: • Have a working knowledge of key equipment, including climbing shoes, harnesses, helmets, chalk, climbing rope, slings/cordelette, carabiners, quickdraws and alpine draws, assisted and non-assisted belay/rappel devices, and friction cords. • Practice building common multi-pitch anchors on bolts and with natural features. • Understand techniques to add safety for both a leader and a follower in multi-pitch terrain. • Be proficient in belaying a follower from an anchor at the top of a pitch using a variety of belay devices. • Practice (mock) leading and following a multi-pitch route, including clipping gear, managing the rope, building anchors, securing oneself to anchors, belaying a follower, cleaning gear from a pitch, and communicating as a team. • Practice multi-pitch transitions when alternating leaders and when leading in blocks (same leader on consecutive pitches). • Practice transitions from climbing to rappelling, as well as transitions for multiple rappels in a row. • Be proficient in rappelling using an extended belay device and third hand. • Be knowledgeable about route planning, navigation, and what to bring on multi-pitch outings. • Connect with other climbers interested in multi-pitch climbing. INSTRUCTORS: Rosa Padilla & Samie Hohl COST: We are thrilled to be able to offer a sliding scale of $50-$400 for our two-day clinics thanks to Arc’teryx, our Education Partner. If $50 is cost prohibitive, you are invited to apply for a full scholarship by clicking here. See below for a loose guideline to help you decide where you might fall on the sliding-scale! REFUND POLICY • 30 Days or More Prior to Program > Reschedule or Refund (minus admin fee) • Less Than 30 Days Prior to Program > NO REFUNDS. Reschedule (plus admin fee) • Less Than 7 Days Prior to Program > NO REFUNDS. NO RESCHEDULES. For information on our refund policy, please check our Education FAQs.