Skyward Rock Climbing Courses

Intro to Trad & Multi-pitch Climbing!Intro to Trad & Multi-pitch Climbing!

Have you wanted to get up some of the bigger climbs? Desert Towers, the Black Canyon, Yosemite? This course is all about learning “trad” skills and multi-pitch belay station management so you can start getting up bigger routes. This two-day course will take place in the unique and beautiful Unaweep canyon with up to 500’ tall granite walls.

Day 1

Begins with introductions to the goal of the course and a few hours of top roping easy climbs. Next, participants move into a discussion of placing and removing gear and building traditional anchors. The day finishes with more climbing.

Day 2

Is devoted to following multi pitch climbs. Participants will be in teams of 2, climbing a multi pitch route. Participants will practice cleaning gear, building anchors, lead belaying, and belaying a second. If time allows, participants may practice further skills at the end of the day including leading.

Dates:

April 13-14, 2024 May 4-5, 2024 September 14-15, 2024 October 12-13, 2024 October 26-27, 2024 Also, upon special request.

Location:

Unaweep Canyon

Cost:

$595 per person, based on a minimum of two participants.

Prerequisites:

Prior rock climbing experience and the ability to follow up to 5.8 is needed.

Gym to Crag Basics

This one-day Colorado Rock Climbing clinic focuses on the basics of sport climbing outdoors. Climbing, after all, is an outdoor sport. It’s an amazing way to interact with the natural world. We will take the skills from gym climbing and learn how to adapt them to the outdoor environment as well as cover the things not found indoors. Our certified guides will educate you in climbing safety, basic knots, and how to belay and rappel. While focusing on these skills, you will be on your way to becoming a competent and responsible outdoor climbing partner.

Dates:

Upon Request

Location:

Rifle Mountain Park

Cost:

$275 per person, based on a minimum of two participants

Prerequisites:

Prior indoor gym climbing

CraCK Climbing Intensive

This two-day Colorado climbing clinic is a unique opportunity to learn the techniques and practices used to climb cracks of all sizes. This course will take place in the stunningly beautiful red rock desert of Western Colorado, an area blessed with some of the best crack climbing in the world. We will explore the uncrowded sandstone and granite crack climbing of the Uncompahgre Plateau and focus on skills and techniques that you will find useful in your trad climbing ambitions, be them in the mountains or at crack-centric venues like Yosemite and Indian Creek.

  • Hand cracks
  • Finger cracks
  • Off-widths
  • Chimneys
  • Ringlocks, off-fingers and more
  • Hand and finger protection
  • Placing gear
  • Building anchors
  • Rope management
  • Multi-pitch climbing and transitions

Dates:

April 13-14, 2024

May 11-12, 2024

Location:

Escalante and Unaweep Canyon

Cost:

$595 per person, based on a minimum of two participants.

Prerequisites:

Must be comfortable lead belaying, catching lead falls, top rope belaying. Ideally proficient at top roping 5.9 and above.

Colorado Climbing Triptych

We offer a unique Colorado Rock Triptych – Rifle, Escalante, Black Canyon. This five-day outing spends time climbing and camping in all three world class venues. We spend the first two days dialing in technique and honing the mental skills offered by the challenges in Rifle Mountain Park. Then, we shift to Escalante for a serious crack-attack day! Day four allows either some light recovery-based climbing and movement or an opportunity to rest and go scope out a long climb in the Black Canyon where the trip will culminate. Our fifth day will find us climbing one of the classic longer routes in the Black and hopefully putting some of what we’ve learned the past few days into action. We will camp at all three areas and get a true road trip out of the adventure.

Dates:

October 16-20

Also, available on demand, pending availability.

Cost:

$1,495 per person, based on a minimum of two participants.

Prerequisites:

Must be comfortable lead belaying, catching lead falls, top rope belaying. Ideally proficient at top roping 5.9 and above.

FAMILY CLIMBING ADVENTURE

Enjoy a fun filled day of climbing with the whole family, or just the kids! No prior climbing experience is necessary. Our instructors are experienced with all ages, and some regularly climb with their own kiddos. We provide a safe environment to learn the basics of rock climbing. We will customize the day based on your family’s wishes — it can be a laid back day with lots of breaks or it can be a challenging activity depending on your abilities and interests. In Ouray, Grand Junction and Rifle.

Cost:

$600

Requirements:

2-4 participants

Dates:

Available upon request

Prerequisites:

No prior rock climbing experience needed.

PERSONAL GEAR YOU NEED TO BRING:

• Climbing harness with belay/rappel and gear loops.

• Climbing helmet.

• Belay device.

• Two locking carabiners.

• Crampons for technical climbing. (Step in, not strap on)

• Technical ice tools, with hammers. An adze on a tool creates a significant risk to you. If you don’t have a hammer, you may cover the adze with tape and foam so it can’t cut your face if it pops out.

• Ice Tool tethers. This is a long elasticized leash that prevents you from dropping an ice tool. (optional)

• Climbing boots. These must be mountaineering boots. Leather hiking boots won’t work. Good quality climbing boots can be rented from Ouray Mountain Sports. Contact them directly to reserve at (970) 325-4284.

• Hooded shell jacket. A waterproof/breathable (hard shell) jacket is desirable when climbing water ice. If you use a soft shell jacket make sure it is freshly washed and dried as the drying helps to restore the water repellent finish. If we climb in a soft shell we often carry a light waterproof/non-breathable shell such as the Alpine Houdini jacket made by Patagonia.

• Technical climbing pants. Soft or hard shell. Should fit closely around the tops of your boots.

• Gaitors. Nice if your pants are baggy and/or don’t have integrated gaitors to keep the snow out. (optional)

• Synthetic long underwear top and bottoms. Two different weights for different temperature conditions.

• Synthetic mid-weight top. Slightly heavier than the above layer. The Patagonia R1 Hoody is a popular example.

• Warm fleece or sweater top.

• Warm insulating down or synthetic parka that can be worn over all other layers.

• A warm hat which can be worn under your helmet.

• Neck gaiter. Optional, but recommended.

• Two to three pairs of good fitting, non-bulky, warm climbing gloves and mittens. Gloves/mittens usually get wet or damp when ice climbing and it is nice to have a back-up pair with you at all times. Personally we bring two pairs of gloves and one pair of mittens for a day of winter climbing. One thin pair of gloves that are protective but not very warm; these get the most use. One medium pair of gloves that are warmer, but we can still climb with. And one pair of mittens for belaying and for extra cold days. Ski gloves usually have too much material in the palms for climbing.

• Thin synthetic or wool liner gloves. (optional)

• Wool socks to wear in climbing boots. A second thin pair of liner socks is optional for those who tend to get cold feet.

• Sunglasses.

• Sunscreen.

• A 30-40 liter backpack to carry extra clothes, water and food for the day.

• Small headlamp.

• A small personal first aid kit containing bandages and a blister kit.

• Water bottle and/or thermos: You should have one to two quart/liter capacity.

• Lunch/snack food. When climbing in the Ice Park, it is possible to go into town for lunch.

• Camera!

• Bathing suit for hot springs.

IMPORTANT:

Let us know what you DO NOT have. We may have it.

EQUIPMENT WE PROVIDE:

Ropes, protection, slings and other team technical equipment.

The Ice Clinic Workout:

Pull-ups, 5-15 reps, 30 seconds rest. Then:

Strict sit-ups. 10-15 reps, 30 seconds rest. Then:

Isometric Ice-Tool Hangs. 15-20 second one-armed hang off each tool. It helps to wear the gloves you’ll wear climbing. If you can’t do this one-armed, then do it with both arms, but shift more weight to one side at a time for the required time for each side. 30 seconds rest. Then:

Push ups, 10-15 reps, 30 seconds rest. Then:

Repeat circuit three times with a 3 minute rest between laps of the circuit for one workout. Do this workout twice in the first week.

Repeat circuit four times with a 3 minute rest between circuits for one workout. Do it twice a week the second and third week. In week 3 reduce rest between circuits to 2 minutes

Repeat five times the fourth and fifth week. In week four take 2 minutes rest/circuit. In week five take a 1 minute break between laps of the circuit

The sixth week do the workout only once. Do four laps of the circuit with two minutes rest between laps to allow for recovery and super-compensation.

Why pull-ups and push-ups? Because these simple exercise works all the main muscles-groups involved in swinging, and holding onto, an ice tool. If you can’t do five pull-ups, you may want to contact us about a customized strength training plan.

IInterested in a more structured approach to training?

• Read Steve House’s and Scott Johnston’s Book: Training for the New Alpinism

• Check Out Uphill Athlete’s training and coaching options