Matt looking relaxed on lead!
Matt from Calgary, Alan from Canmore, and Corey from Saskatchewan all joined me for the weekend and did an awesome job of learning to lead bolted rock climbs. Within a couple hours of arriving at Wasootch on Saturday, all three of them had led a climb with no problems! Throughout the day everyone did tons of leading and we practiced a variety of skills such as cleaning anchors, lead belaying, and slab climbing technique.
Alan leading a challenging route at Wasootch.
On Sunday we headed to the world class Back of the Lake crag at Lake Louise. Once we arrived at the climbs, everyone took turns leading a number of routes up to 5.7. We also spent some time learning the basics of trad climbing gear by placing cams and nuts in the nice quartzite cracks. Throughout the day we ran through a variety of sport climbing scenarios such as missing anchors, not being able to make the top, and what to do if your rope is to short to lower off. Later on in the day I set up some harder routes and everyone ended with strong attempts at top-roping the mega classic "Wicked Gravity" (5.11a).
Corey busting through the halfway roof on Wicked Gravity!
It was a fun weekend and everyone left with all the skills required to safely head out sport climbing on their own!
J. Mills
CRAG Head Guide
http://www.cdnalpine.com/
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