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Rock Evolution Course
Go from gym climber to outdoor rock climber in four days: top-rope anchors, sport leading, trad gear, multi-pitch and rock rescue, taught in order in Squamish.
- Location
- Squamish, BC
- Duration
- 4 Days
- Difficulty
- Introductory
- Guest Ratio
- 4 to 1
$680 per person
Book nowGo From Gym to Multi-Pitch in Four Days
Rock Evolution is a 4-day rock climbing course in Squamish, BC that takes you from the gym to multi-pitch, one skill at a time. Day 1 is top-roping and sport climbing, day 2 is trad gear, day 3 is multi-pitch, and day 4 is rock rescue. You learn with an ACMG-certified guide, no more than 4 climbers per guide, and all technical gear is included. It costs $680, with five sets of 2027 dates from May to August, some over two weekends.
It’s built for people who have climbed in a gym but have little or no outdoor experience. By the end you’ll have the skills to climb a wide range of routes, from the Smoke Bluffs to the Chief, and access to our online course to keep learning.
Prefer to go one step at a time? Each day is also a course on its own: Intro to Rock, Sport, Trad, Multi-Pitch and Rock Rescue.
What does this course cover?
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Part of the Introductory skill set.
This 4-day course is designed for participants with zero- to minimal rock climbing experience. Participants will cover top-rope climbing, sport climbing trad climbing and multi-pitch climbing and perform a simple rock rescue.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required
Is this course for me?
If you have logged some time in the climbing gym and are ready to catapult your climbing skills to become a full-fledged outdoor rock climber- this is for you!
- No previous outdoor rock climbing experience
- Have top-roped 5.6 as a minimum (in the gym)
- Fitness to be moving for a minimum of 3 hours
- Can hike 1 hour in gentle uphill terrain
- Likes being outside
Includes
- 4 full days of instruction with ACMG guide
- All technical equipment (shoes, harness, helmet and group gear)
- Access to our online course
Does Not Include
- Lunch
- Transportation to and from the meeting point
Itinerary
Day 1 - Top Rope + Sport Climbing
- Route selections macro and micro
- Crag hazard recognition and mitigation
- Bolt evaluation
- Threading anchor for the rappel
- Safe rappelling
- Setting up a top rope anchor system
Day 2 - Traditional Gear Climbing
- Protection placement and assessment (cams, nuts)
- Anchor Systems
- Safe retreating
- Lead tactics
- Supervised practice
Day 3 - Multi-Pitch Climbing
- Advanced anchor building
- Different methods of top-down belays
- Belay management
- Efficiency: climbing and changeovers
- Multi-pitch rappelling
- Supervised multi-pitch climb
Day 4 - Rock Rescue
- Escape Belay Haul: 3:1, 6:1, Block and Tackle
- Lower: redirect, munter, knot pass
- Counterbalance rappel, Tram
- Improvised rappel anchors/system
2027 DATES
Frequently Asked Questions
Gear List
Please come prepared to spend the whole day outside in all types of weather. It can be anything from cold in the morning as you will be climbing in the shade to very hot in the sun!
Full pants or Capris.
T-shirt or long sleeve
Warm jacket (sweatshirt, lightweight down jacket)
Rain/wind jacket (gore-tex)
Warm hat (for colder days)
Small backpack (30 litres)
Sunglasses
Good shoes; running/gym shoes are fine
Water, 1 litre
Food
Harness, Helmet, Climbing shoes (let us know if you need rentals)
Lunch/Water
Please arrive in the morning with food and drink for the day. This is also available for purchase at the Adventure center
Booking Policy
Please take a moment to read and understand our policies before booking! Booking, payment, cancellation and weather policies, as well as FAQ, may be found here.
Do I need outdoor climbing experience?
No. You should have top-roped 5.6 in a gym, be fit enough to move for at least 3 hours, and be able to hike an hour uphill on easy ground.
Are the four days in a row?
Most dates are four days in a row. Two sets of dates run over two weekends (June 26–27 and July 3–4, and July 10–11 and 17–18) for people who work weekdays.
What is included?
Four full days with an ACMG-certified guide, all technical equipment (shoes, harness, helmet and group gear) and access to our online course.
Where do we meet?
The Squamish Adventure Centre each morning.
How many people are in the group?
A maximum of 4 climbers per guide.
Can teenagers join?
Minors need a parent or legal guardian to sign their waiver. Climbers 16 and over are welcome with a parent or guardian on the course. Younger or unaccompanied minors are considered case by case, so contact the office first.
Reviews
“I want to say a big thank you to the Altus team for enabling my future multi-pitch adventures, I feel really good about how today's course has prepared me for the big leagues ”
“Can't wait to get back out there with the Altus guides - don't leave home without 'em!”
