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Traditional Climbing Course
Learn to place cams and nuts, build gear anchors and lead on trad in Squamish. Choose the 1-day course, or the 2-day course for an extra day building confidence on lead.
- Location
- Squamish, BC
- Duration
- 1 or 2 Days
- Difficulty
- Introductory / Intermediate
- Guest Ratio
- 4 to 1
From $245 per person
Book nowLearn Trad Climbing in Squamish: 1-Day or 2-Day Course
Our Traditional Climbing Course teaches you to place your own protection, build gear anchors and lead trad routes, with an ACMG guide at a maximum 4:1 ratio in Squamish, BC. The 1-day course ($245) covers gear placements, anchors and supervised leads. The 2-day course ($380) adds a second day to dial in those skills and build confidence so you are ready for the stone on your own.
Already picked your first trad routes? Read our top 5 beginner trad climbs in Squamish. After this course, Multi-Pitch Climbing takes your gear skills onto longer routes, and you save 10% when you book both together.
What does this course cover?
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Part of the Intermediate skill set.
- 1 or 2 full days in the field with an ACMG guide
- Access to our online course
- Access to our top-up clinics throughout the season
Traditional climbing - or trad climbing as it’s more commonly known - is the craft of placing protection gear up climbing routes. Whether that’s climbing big walls, alpine objectives or multi-pitch routes up the Stawamus Chief, the ability to trad climb provides climbers with access to mountains all over the world.
In addition to our field days, all students will have access to our online course too, so you can study before and after you head out into the field. Students can also join our top-up clinics running throughout the season. Simply book your clinic on one of our scheduled dates, and get yourself back on the rock to put your skills into practice!
Save 10% when this course is combined with Multi-Pitch Climbing in the same booking.
All participants are required to read and sign a release of liability waiver prior to their trip.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required
Is this course for me?
Whether you are confident at top rope climbing or sport climbing, our Trad Climbing course is for intermediate to advanced climbers. No lead climbing experience necessary! This course is also highly recommended to climbers interested in taking our Multi-Pitch Climbing course, as trad climbing experience is required.
• Climb 5.8 Outdoors
• Proficiency with Belaying
• Top Rope and Lead with a Variety of Devices
• Proficiency with Climbing Knots and Gear
• Understanding of Climbing Anchor Principles
• Previous Lead Climbing Experience (recommended, but not required)
The morning is spent practicing gear placements and making gear anchors. The afternoon is practice top-roped leads and ultimately supervised leads.
- Understanding Required Gear
- Excellent Gear Placements
- Building Gear, Tree and Natural Anchors
- Safe Leading + Safe Belaying
- Practice Leads
Includes
- 1 or 2 full days of instruction with an 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
8:30 am - Meet and greet at the Squamish Adventure Center
9:00 am - Travel to Smoke Bluff park and head out to the crag (two-minute drive, ten-minute hike)
9:00 am - 4:00 pm - Climbing, learning, and high fives.
4:30 pm - Back to the cars for debriefing and more high fives
2027 DATES
Frequently Asked Questions
Itinerary
8:30 am - Meet and greet at the Squamish Adventure Center
9:00 am - Travel to Smoke Bluff park and head out to the crag (two-minute drive, ten-minute hike)
9:00 am - 4:00 pm - Climbing, learning, and high fives.
4:30 pm - Back to the cars for debriefing and more high fives
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 (available upon request)
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! All the information you need about booking, payment, cancellation, and weather policies can be found in our cancellation policy and FAQs.
Should I take the 1-day or the 2-day course?
The 1-day course covers gear placements, anchors and supervised leads. Choose the 2-day course if you want a second day of leading so the skills stick and you leave ready to climb trad on your own.
Do I need to lead climb already?
No, but it helps. You should climb 5.8 outdoors, belay confidently, understand top-rope anchors and know your knots. If you have sport led before, you’ll get more out of the day.
What is included?
Instruction from an ACMG-certified guide, all technical equipment (shoes, harness, helmet and a full trad rack) and access to our online course.
Where do we meet?
8:30 am at the Squamish Adventure Centre, then a short drive and a ten-minute walk to the Smoke Bluffs. Days finish around 4:30 pm.
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
“Fantastic mountain guides whom I would come back to anytime. My experience with Altus has been on three different occasions: ice climbing, ski touring and mountaineering, and each time had an awesome adventure. Their guides are extremely knowledgeable, inspiring, thorough, and able to cater to individuals' preferences and needs.”
“Did two climbing courses with Altus and both were great! Very skilled and experienced instructors who knew how to pass on their knowledge and let you learn hands on. I can fully recommend Altus for any outdoor course or trip!”
