Alpine Rock Climbing
You're dreaming of rock climbing in hidden places while being high up in the alpine? Learn the skills of fast and safe movement in the alpine, route assessment, advanced multi-pitch skills, snow travel and more...in our 3-4 day town-based Alpine Climbing Course in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana.
Difficulty:
Beginner to advanced experience climbing outdoors required
Fitness:
Ability to spend 8 hours outdoors 2-3 days in a row
Season:
June-September
Group Size:
2- 6 participants
Duration:
3-4 days; each with 6-8 hours of field time
Location:
Red Lodge, East Rosebud, West Rosebud, Lake Fork, Montana
Includes:
Rental climbing equipment, group equipment, & instruction from a professional guide
Excludes:
Food, transportation, lodging, personal items, and guide gratuity
Course Details
This course is built to give aspiring alpinists the skills they need to start alpine climbing safely on their own. These courses are largely designed based on specific experience and goals of participants, but typically highlight multi-pitch climbing, quick alpine systems and transitions, multi-pitch rappelling, route selection, snow travel techniques, traditional gear and risk management.
Skills Covered:
-
Route selection and preparation
-
Packing the right equipment
-
Review of knots, hitches, and belaying
-
Movement on steep snow & self arrest
-
Anchor construction, rock & snow
-
Traditional gear placement
-
Retreat
This course is typically 3-4 days long and starts with a briefing at our office in Red Lodge. Here, we discuss gear selection for our first day and course goals. The first two days will be spent on local crags for multi-ptich climbing, transtions, alpine terrain and skill building in alpine rock systems. Day 3 includes some time on snow for snow travel skills and a objective based alpine climb in bigger terrain. Optional is day 4 that covers objective based alpine climbs in the backcountry.
01
Sample Itinerary
Red Lodge based rock skills
On day 1 we will meet around 8 am at one of the local crags around Red Lodge, Montana. Headstrong Buttress, the Ovens or the Confluence crag depending on the needs of participants. We will cover alpine rock anchors, belaying techniques, moving and retreat.
02
Multi-pitch and alpine style climbing
On day 2 we will solidify our new knowledge and practice on a longer rock route in the Red Lodge area. This will be either in the West Fork or Main Fork (Glacier lake road) drainage.
03
Snow skills at Beartooth Pass
On day 3 we will learn snow skills and potentially crevasse rescue on permanent snow fiels at the Beartooth Pass about 45 min drive from Red Lodge, Montana.
04
Alpine objective in the Beartooth Mountains
On our 4th and last day we will climb a big alpine route (10-12 hrs) in the Beartooth mountains, Montana. Depending on the group's skills Metcalf or Spirit mountain will be set as goals. Other routes/ mountain objectives are possible as well.
**Don't see a course date listed? Email our office to see if there is one coming up, or start a course of your own! Many of our courses are custom and low ratio, built to your needs.