Trip Report: Rock Climb - 101 Clinic - Learn to Climb


Rock Climb - 101 Clinic - Learn to Climb
By Kathleen Waller
CLIMBING 06/04/2016 ALL
WMC Activity: Rock Climb - Learn to Climb - 101 Clinic
Dates: Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th, 2016
Location: Geezer Wall - Big Cottonwood Canyon

Organizer
Kathleen Waller

Participants
Chakravarthy Josyam
Marcia Hansen
Jonathan Ruchri
Michael Bauer
Travis Gibson
Neil Anderson
Tawny Burton
Shannon Bond
Cindy Spangler
Anita Rueda
Ying Lee
Skyler McNeil
Michael Roberts
Kurt Sturm
Byron Beplay

Volunteers
Steve Duncan
Greg Baldacci
Will McCarvill
Mark Karpinski
Ron Allan

This clinic is a beginner's workshop on the fundamentals of rock climbing plus equipment use and selection. The purpose of the clinic is to provide an outdoor climbing experience for new climbers and a refresher for climbers wanting to improve fundamental skills. This clinic is also a great opportunity to meet and learn with other climbers. We cover gear and techniques including proper belay, top roping, and climbing with a focus on safety. After completing the clinic, participants have the knowledge and skills to participate in our weekly WMC club climbs.

This month the clinic took place at Geezer Wall in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Geezer Wall is a great place for beginner climbers with eight easy to moderate sport routes (5.5 to 5.7) and a couple of two-pitch sport routes. Geezer remains shady until lunch and due to a 15 to 20 minute approach, Geezer Wall is much less crowded than crags with similar ratings.

Thank you to the volunteers for arriving early to help set up top ropes. We set up four sport routes on Saturday and 3 sport routes on Sunday. Both days, all participants successfully completed all routes. Each volunteer was assigned to monitor one rope and one route. Participants paired up and cycled through the crag learning from each volunteer. The volunteers shared their expertise and acted as backup belay while pairs alternated climbing and belaying. I anchored in at the top of the crag to welcome participants to the top of the wall and instruct on lowering.

I look forward to climbing with are the participants at our weekly club climbs. After a couple more days of sport climbing outdoors, participants can begin learning how to lead sport, belay climbers on lead, set up anchors, clean routes, and repel after cleaning anchors. I look forward to seeing many of the participants at the 201 clinic (Learn to Lead) in July.

Kathleen Waller

Photo Links
http://www.wasatchmountainclub.org/photo-albums/slideshow/1465225634
http://www.wasatchmountainclub.org/photo-albums/slideshow/1465226558

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