Preparing For Your First Outdoor Rock Climbing Trip
Introductory Outdoor Rock Climbing
Course Itinerary:
9:00am:
Ontario clients will meet the instructor at the Upper Parking Lot, Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. (You may ask the park attendant for directions when you pay the $9.50 entrance fee at the gate.)
BC clients will meet the instructyor at the parking lot of Squamish Adventure Centre (38551 Loggers Lane.)
• Formal introductions, sign waivers, safety discussion and washroom facility.
• Lesson 1 Equipment: fit for harness and helmet.
• Lesson 2 Environment: outdoor climbing etiquette.
• Lesson 3 On site safety: climbing hazards and safety protocols.
• Lesson 4 Introduction to top-roping concept, setup and equipment.
• Lesson 5 Tying in: use of the figure 8 knot for climbing.
• Lesson 6 Belaying: "Pull-BUS" belay technique using a grigri, and lowering using a grigri.
• Lesson 7 Communication: climbing commands, terminology and communication protocol.
• Lesson 8 Belaying and lowering with an ATC-type device (optional).
• Lesson 9 Ground anchor building (optional).
• Lesson 10 Climbing technique: professional coaching and movement skills.
• Lesson 11 Defining success in climbing and in life (optional).
• Lesson 12 Life lesson discussion (optional).
3:30pm: Meeting at the parking lot to return equipment and say goodbye to each other.
Rattlesnake Point Facility Information:
Address: 7200 Appleby Line, Milton, ON L9T 2Y1. GPS Coordinates: 43.471 -79.913
Driving Directions:-
From Hwy 401, take Hwy 25 south to Steeles Avenue, head west on Steeles to Appleby Line, drive south on Appleby Line for 3 km
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From Q.E.W, take Appleby Line north; 1 km north of Derry Road on top of the escarpment
There is a water tap and an outhouse near the Upper Parking Lot. The hike from the parking lot to the cliff is about 5 minutes. The cliff is 70 to 90 feet high.
Smoke Bluffs Park Facility Information:
Address: 38551 Loggers Ln, Squamish, British Columbia.
The park is about 200m from the above address, which is where the Squamish Adventure Centre located. There is washroom facilities in the centre which hosts Tourism Squamish. The hike from the parking lot to the nearest cliff is about 15 minutes. The cliff is 70 to 90 feet high.
Equipment:
Climbing ropes, harnesses, helmets, rappelling and belaying devices are provided by Zen Climb free of charge.
Personal Preparation:
Weather Kit - Sun lotion, mosquito repellent, sun glasses, rain jacket in case it rains.
Clothing - loose fitting clothing made of synthetic materials for easy movement and quick dry;
Shoes - old hiking/walking shoes or boots for tough wearing on rock; shoes with sticky rubber soles are better; you may rent a pair of rock shoes from us.
Others - put your jewelry, rings on fingers and artificial finger/toe nails away; pull your long hair back to avoid potential interference with rappelling and climbing.
Food & Water - Pack your lunch and water in your daypack.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: Is your company insured?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the instructor certified?
A: Yes. Your lead instructor is certified by American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), or Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) or, by Zen Climb through its vigorous certification process that includes practice teaching with real clients in addition to a series of training courses based on the standard practice of AMGA or ACMG.
Q: What is the instructor to students ratio?
A: One instructor teaches upto 6 clients attending this course first time.
Q: How long will it take for me to climb from the bottom to the top?
A: It may take a beginner 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the difficulty level of the route and the climber's strength and skills.
Q: After I finish climbing one route, will I get a chance to climb a different route?
A: Yes. Often, when you start a couple of feet left or right of the route you have climbed, you basically climb a different route that is of different level of challenge. Alternatively, you can also climb a completely different route set up by the instructor.
Q: Will I be able to last for the whole length of the course?
A: Yes, you will when you take adequate rest between climbs, and also climb routes that are not super challenging. In the past some clients chose to challenge themselves to climb routes that seemed daunting at first glance, and eventally succeed (with instructor's coaching). They were immensely stocked with their super-human-like success and happily concluded their day ahead of scheduled time.
Q: What are the pros and cons of taking a half-day or full-day course ?
The first part of the course (about 1-2 hours depending on clients' past experience and learning speed) is spent on logistic and safety items, equiptment fitting, knot tying, learning/practicing belaying and other essential risk management practices. So, if your objective is to just have a taste of climbing outdoors, and you don't care how many routes or how many times you will climb, you may choose the half-day option. If you want to climb as many routes and as many times you can, and fully enjoy the whole experience, you may choose the full-day option.
Q: Can my family members or friends watch me climbing and take photos?
A: They can do so at their own risk. Our instructors are not responsible for looking after their safety.