Instruction
“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them”
Small group clinics and private instruction for all levels.
Learning from a professional allows you to focus on the most essential skills which translates to climbing more confidently, safely & quickly.
Clinics are taught a principle-based style to help you understand not just WHAT to do but WHY and WHEN to do it.
Rock Rescue
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Whether you are leading or following, rescue skills are crucial to learn and practise.
If you, your partner or an adjacent party have an injury, stuck ropes, rappel past your anchor (the list of reasons is endless) or you simply want to gain overall efficiency and add to your technical toolbox, this course will provide you with ACMG best practises of common AND improvised rescue systems and real world applications of them.
This clinic is for folks who want to increase their confidence while on the wall; decision making, planning, preparation, communication and the technical elements of improvised self and partner rope rescue.
If you don’t use it you lose it… refreshers are recommended annually especially if you haven’t been practicing!
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Two days of focused instruction followed by coached practice.
Foundations (day one):
Equipment strengths and limitations.
Preparation: equipment selection, packing, communication.
Decision making in light of rescue scenarios.
Rappel extensions & backups.
Belaying from above using guide ATC and munter hitch.
Load strand direct lower.
Hauling using a 3:1 mechanical advantage.
Carabiner brakes (if a rappel device is dropped).
Tandem rappel (two people, one device).
Discussions on stuck ropes and ‘defensive’ rappelling.
Progressions (day two):
Rope ascending
Adding mechanical advantage (5:1)
Rescue lowers
Block and tackle
Counter-balance rappel (pick off) (time pending).
Review and practise of day one
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Experience belaying & rappelling using a backup is essential. This is a fast-paced learning environment. Participants will be responsible for arriving at the clinic with competency of some concepts, knots and hitches. Upon registration, you will receive a list of links to YouTube videos teaching these skills, some pre-clinic home practice is strongly encouraged.
Included: pre-clinic study, take-home notes and technical equipment.
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May 3-4
Climb Harder
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There is more to climbing higher grades than simply being ‘strong’.
Join Kinley and Vikki Weldon for a unique 2 day deep dive exploring a wide range of topics designed to change the way you analyze and approach climbing challenging grades.
Our mindset, approach to problem-solving, tactics and comfort with falling all play into the process of climbing harder grades.
If you want to climb higher grades more confidently, efficiently while having more fun, this clinic is for you.
This clinic is limited to 8 people at a 4:1 guest to guide ratio.
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In an action packed two days you will learn the multi layered (and often not linear) mindset, processes and skills required to climb harder including but not limited to:
Structured falling instruction working with you where you are at to create more comfort with falling and catching falls (dynamic lead belaying).
Tactics such as warming up, resting on the route, breathing, shaking out, breaking a route into workable sections, nutrition tips AND MORE for optimal performance.
Skills like clipping up a route, finding optimal clipping stances and remembering beta.
Goal setting and creating and maintaining a positive mindset that embraces curiosity and learning.
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Participants must have been confidently sport lead climbing and lead belaying for at least 2 years on outdoor sport climbs over the grade of 5.9. Most of our venues have limited routes under the grade of 5.10 however that is the point of the clinic: to get you on harder routes!
There is no requirement on this clinic to lead, as many of the skills can be practiced on top rope.
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June 28-29
Crack Movement
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Crack Climbing is akin to speaking a language. Knowing only a little and learning can feel awkward and difficult, while having some fluency allows greater expression and fun!
You will learn and practice a variety of fundamental crack climbing techniques and skills. While this clinic focuses on movement, topics such as gear placement, lead strategies and headspace will be thoroughly discussed.
This clinic is for folks who have been climbing outside for 2+ years but would like a better understanding of crack climbing movement, lead strategies and increased confidence and enjoyment while crack climbing.
During the clinic we will review intermediate to advanced crack climbing techniques. Even if you have been crack climbing for years but want a to think about and climb crack climbs like you haven’t before, this clinic is for you.
Learning new skills is optimal in low stress environments, therefore, much of the climbing during this clinic is done on top rope. There will be opportunities for supervised leads, crag and group dependant.
Grade 7 Hand Jams will be available for participant use throughout the clinic.
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Jamming Techniques: finger, hand and fist sized cracks, stemming, smearing, diagonal and layback cracks.
Reading the rock, resting & movement on cracks.
Equipment selection and racking.
Headspace & lead strategies.
Gear placement strategies for runouts, protecting above the ground and ledges, ‘tricky’ gear, protecting continuous sized cracks and how to french free or back off a route.
*This clinic will not teach ‘how to place gear’. Check out my TRAD CLINIC for learning about how to place to gear.
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Minimum two years of top rope and lead belaying. Minimum one year of outdoor climbing on sport or trad.
Participants are encouraged to have their own ‘somewhat comfortable’ climbing shoes, harness, hemet and belay device.
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July 11-12
Wide Cracks Camp
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Wide crack don’t have to feel impossible. Learn the techniques required to jam WIDE cracks in this one day unique clinic.
To optimize learning and practising new movement techniques, climbing will be on top ropes. We will cover tips and tricks for placing gear on wide cracks.
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Wide hands, offwidth and chimneys.
Dressing for success.
Jamming techniques, cups, stacks, arm bars, chicken wings and a plethora of foot and legs tricks for cracks 3 inches and wider!
Protecting wide cracks.
Lead strategy for wide cracks.
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Participants must have one year of confident top rope belaying and outdoor climbing experience. Experience crack climbing is strongly recommended prior to this clinic. Check out the Crack Movement Clinic to build your crack skills before taking part in the Wide Cracks Camp!
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August 3
Trad Skills
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This one-day clinic is a great introduction to trad climbing for folks who want to learn about the foundations of traditional protection and how to apply it to leading single-pitch cracks. Squamish’s Smoke Bluffs host hundreds of world-class crack climbs, perfect for learning and practicing trad skills.
G7 HAND JAMS are available for participant use.
4:1 participant to guide ratio to a maximum of 8.
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Review of crag safety, systems checks, communication and belay systems. (morning)
Protection Placement Principles (morning) - Lesson followed with practice and feedback.
Equipment Selection, Racking Up and Lead Strategies (afternoon) - Lesson followed by mock leads and feedback.
Gaining confidence while trad climbing (afternoon) - Lesson and practice of testing gear.
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Minimum:
Participants must have one year of confident top rope belaying and outdoor climbing experience.
Some experience crack climbing is recommended prior to this clinic (but not essentia.
Practice racks are available for use during the clinic.
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June 14 or July 12
Gravity Masters
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In this one day clinic, we will embrace gravity and explore mental strategies that will allow you to approach falling in a more positive light. Simply put, falling is a skill. Learn and practice the mental and physical techniques necessary to fall safely and confidently. And remember, behind every climber is a good belayer: learn tips and tricks on how to give the best lead fall catches!
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Knowledge is power. The theory of fear and how we can begin to manage it.
How to fall.
How to engage in an a progressive falling practice (on top rope or lead) to build confidence.
Climber / Belayer Communication.
How to give the perfect catch. Lead Belaying techniques.
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Must have previous outdoor sport climbing experience (can comfortably lead 5.9 outdoors minimum). Lead climbing is not mandatory in this clinic. Everything can be practiced on top rope, and we can go from there!
Comfortable lead belaying (with a Gri-Gri or an equivalent assisted braking device).
*Please note in order to run this clinic we need 6 participants.
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July 6
Multipitch Systems
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Multipitch techniques allows us to explore the great walls and mountains of the world, big and small!
Whether you want to learn these skills for the first time or streamline and update your existing systems there are always ways to become a safer, more efficient Multipitch climber and have more fun!
Practise racks and anchor/ belay equipment are available for use by participants.
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Planning, preparation, communication.
Equipment selection.
Technical systems (top down belaying, multidirectional anchors and protection strategies).
Rope management and use of a second rope for hauling and rappelling.
Multipitch rappels (defensive rappelling tactics).
Decision making (injuries, busy routes, fading light, wet conditions).
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Participants will have been confidently lead belaying and lead climbing for at least one year on sport routes 5.9 and above or traditional routes 5.8 and above.
If you are in a group of two and one person leads and the other doesn’t, you can take this clinic as a pair as long as the non-leader is a competent lead belayer.
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June 7-8
or July 5-6
Sold Out. Get on the mailing list for updates on the next one.
Beyond Traditional
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May 24-27, 2025
730-330
Smoke Bluffs
Join Dirtbabe Collective x Kinley Aitken Guiding for a 4-day course to learn the fundamentals of lead-climbing on (trad) gear with a focus on nervous system regulation!
We are excited to offer a blended-focus workshop, encompassing the technical elements of lead-climbing on (trad) gear and the mental/emotional/physical regulation strategies of the nervous system to keep us calm in the vertical world!
This workshop breaks down the extensive technical knowledge of trad climbing into digestible chunks, followed by experiential exercises to assist in the integration process. Throughout the process, information, tools and practices supporting regulation of the nervous system will be offered. This will assist anyone who experiences fear or nervousness in their mind or body while they climb!
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-How to place and clean trad gear with a focus on principles of gear placements, equipment strengths and limitations, and how to test (and trust) your gear!
-How to build trad anchors (unidirectional gear anchors).
-How to choose a rack and rack your harness.
-Mock trad leading (potential to lead a route independently, dependent on comfort and ability).
-Lead climbing strategy.
-Fall hazard mitigation strategies.
-Trad climbing lingo.
-Practice and receive guidance on crack climbing technique.
-Theory of nervous system regulation as applied to climbing..
-Personal and partner practices to support nervous system regulation.
-Connect with other climbers interested in trad climbing and nervous system regulation.
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Experience lead belaying (minimum of two years - indoors or outdoors).
Experience climbing outside, 5.8 and above (minimum two years).
Strongly recommend being comfortable top-roping on granite cracks 5.8 and up.
Basic crack climbing knowledge and experience .
Experience leading is helpful but not required.
Harness, helmet and shoes (can arrange rentals if needed).
Bring your own rack if you have it! (not required)
Review Booking Policy and Waiver here.
Not seeing a topic or dates that you’re interested in?
Book a private clinic!
“The Climb Harder Clinic was a real game changer for me… I feel like I’ve broken through a plateau I’ve been stuck at for many years.”
-Kate N
