Rock Climbing Courses
Top Rope Set-Up
Learn to set up top-rope climbs using SERENE anchors that employ a two-point natural anchor while safely keeping tethered into the system. Completion of this course, or like training, is a requirement to participate in the regular CT AMC Thursday evening top rope climbing events.
Basic Self-Rescue
This course teaches you the skills to use the equipment you have to get your party safely back to the ground. Improvisation, creative problem solving, and conceptual thinking are stressed in this course. Learn to assist from above and below; lower your partner, ascend ropes, transition through multiple systems, and use mechanical advantage to haul your partner. This is a must-have skill set if you venture into backcountry areas. Learn friction knots, belay escape, counter-weight and assisted rappels, and other important rescue skills. Participants should have seconding experience and have previously climbed at a CT AMC event.
Anchor Building
Learn to place gear efficiently and effectively and combine multiple placements to build SERENE gear anchors. This course teaches the fundamentals of building SERENE anchors necessary for multi-pitch trad climbing designed for intermediate climbers and is a pre-requisite for participating in the Lead Climbing course. Participants must have previously climbed at a CT AMC event.
Intermediate Climbing
This course will prepare you to follow/second single and multi-pitch rock climbs. Learn efficient rope management techniques, basic gear placement and removal, rappelling and rappel back-up systems. Mastery of these skills is required to participate in CT AMC trad climbing events. Extensive top-rope climbing experience required as well as previous climbing at a CT AMC event.
Lead Climbing
This two-day course will prepare participants to get on the “ sharp end” and begin lead climbing. Participants must have solid trad climbing experience and have completed our Anchor Building and Intermediate Climbing as a Second courses (or equivalents). Students will provide their own equipment with at least a partial rack and participants must have previously climbed at a CT AMC event.
Ice Climbing and Mountaineering Courses
Introduction to Ice Climbing
This two-day course is designed for experienced rock climbers wishing to try ice climbing on a top rope. Participants will learn the basic use of ice axes and crampons to move up water flow ice. Participants will be required to rent or have their own gear including two technical ice axes, technical crampons and ice climbing boots. Participants must have previously climbed at a CT AMC event.
Introduction to Mountaineering
This two-day course is designed to give participants a basic understanding of safe alpine travel with emphasis on proper ice axe and crampon use, temperature management in extreme cold and windy conditions, managing food and hydration during sustained winter exertion, and the essentials of winter camping. The general plan is a winter overnight camp at Hermit Lake on day 1 and summit of Mt. Washington and return to Pinkham Notch on day 2. Participants must have previously climbed at a CT AMC event.
