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Dreaming of taking on the formidable El Cap in the near future? Master the fundamentals of climbing big walls with this hardcore four-day climbing course. Learn big wall essentials, such as transitions, setting up port-a-ledges, assessing pitons, and much more from AMGA-certified rock guides with tons of experience!
Prerequisite: You must have taken a trad multi pitch efficiency climbing clinic or have experience leading trad multi pitch climbs at a grade of 5.8 or higher. Contact us if you have any questions about whether or not you are ready for this course.-
This hardcore 4-day course will teach you everything there is to know about taking on massive rock walls, such as:
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- Appropriate gear selection
- Aid leading with trad gear and bolts
- Discussion of aid ratings
- Pendulums
- Fixing a line and ascending it
- Following an aid pitch (passing gear, lower outs)
- Big wall transitions
- Hauling and docking a haul bag and rappelling with a haul bag
- Assessing pitons and other fixed gear
- Setting up a port-a-ledge and a comfortable bivy
- Route finding and topos
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local rock climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Two or four days of rock climbing courses depending on your chosen itinerary
What’s not included:
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- Transportation
- Accommodations
- Food and snacks
- Technical rock climbing equipment
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Climbing in Index requires decent fitness levels and previous climbing experience. Participants in these courses should have the skill and physical fitness required to take on easy to moderate single and multi-pitch routes on hard granite. To ensure you have a fun day, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.
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Trad Climbing Course:
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- To participate in this course, you must have taken a previous sport climbing course or have experience top roping outside at a grade of 5.7 or higher and leading inside at a grade of 5.8 or higher.
Multi-Pitch Trad Climbing Course:
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- Participants are expected to have taken a previous sport climbing course or have experience leading trad climbs at a grade of 5.6 or higher.
Big Wall and Aid Climbing Course:
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- Before participating in this course, you’re expected to have taken a trad multi-pitch climbing course or have experience leading trad multi-pitch climbs at a grade of 5.8 or higher.
Technical Self Rescue Course:
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- Participants are expected to have previous experience climbing multi-pitch climbs.
Crack Climbing Course:
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- Participants are expected to have previous experience with top rope belaying and climbing 5.8 or higher outside.
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When it comes to technical climbing equipment, you’ll need:
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- Helmet
- Harness with a locking carabiner, belay device, and chalk bag
- Ropes
- Climbing shoes
- Cord — 7 mm, 15 feet
- Prusik cord
- Sling — 120 cm
- Climbing hardware (quickdraws, cam devices, stoppers, etc.)
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag)
- Water bottle
- Food you can eat on-the-go
- Hiking or approach shoes
- Toiletries (sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional
You will be provided with a more detailed equipment list upon booking your desired course. If you do not have all of the required items, your guide will work with you to find the best place to buy or rent it.
Some additional equipment, such as the assisted braking belay device, quickdraws, alpine draws, and micro-traction style device, can be provided by your guide.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. -
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Group sizes and prices:
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- The max guest-to-guide ratio for the Trad Climbing Course and the Technical Self Rescue Course is 4:1.
- The max guest-to-guide ratio for the Multi-Pitch Trad Climbing Course and Crack Climbing Course is 3:1.
- The max guest-to-guide ratio for the Big Wall and Aid Climbing Course is 2:1.
- For these private courses, costs per person decrease as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family.
Climbing courses in Index can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to climb on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Index, WA, most people fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 3 hours away. From there, you can rent a car or take a bus.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Index, WA, please refer to the US Government’s international travel guidelines and the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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