Rock Skills Intermediate

The Mountain Training Rock Skills courses are designed to provide structured training opportunities for people who want to learn more and become independent climbers. There are three different levels so that complete beginners and those with more experience can choose the most appropriate starting point.

The two day Rock Skills Intermediate course is for those that already have some climbing experience and want to learn how to become a competent second. The main aims of this course are to learn how to be a safe belayer, how to second routes competently and how to belay a lead climber. You will develop your climbing movement skills and learn how to place protection and construct belays.

We never want cost to be a barrier to participation so there are a range of bursaries available. We are familiar with working with a variety of needs and ensuring that our courses are participant centred.

The course will cover the following topics:

- Background and planning: choosing a suitable venue, how to use guidebooks, crag etiquette and the work of the mountaineering councils.

- Climbing skills: warming up and injury avoidance, developing your movement skills and widening your repertoire of climbing moves.

- Footwear and equipment: rock boot fit, selecting the right equipment for improved performance, and an introduction to climbing protection.

- Technical skills: building anchors, selecting runners, ropework, belaying, holding falls, lowering, seconding a route and personal abseiling.

- Environmental knowledge: the impact of climbers at the crag, ethics, access and environmental considerations.

- Hazards and emergency procedures: identifying hazards, managing risk when climbing, abseiling and bouldering. Understanding common injuries, how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue.

This course runs in the Peak District and Guernsey. Please see our Events page here https://www.climblbg.org.uk/events and the Mountain Training Events page here https://mt.tahdah.me/legalentityprovider/event/210768 for course listings and costs.

The Mountain Training page here https://www.mountain-training.org/skills-courses/rock-skills-intermediate/ gives further details of the course itself and its benefits.

In 2024 this course will run in the Peak District on the following dates:

  • 25 & 26 April

  • 9 & 10 May

  • 20 & 21 June

  • 11 & 12 July

  • 5 & 6 September

And in Guernsey on 31 August and 1 September.

Please email us if you would like to book on a course.