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Lead Ladder 2015 · Wed. Jun. 3rd, 2015 - Sun. Jul. 12th, 2015

Warning: This is an old trip - it already happened

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Organized by: Jon Leighton.

Start: Wednesday, Jun. 3rd, 6:00 pm
End: Sunday, Jul. 12th, 6:00 pm

Description:

The Lead Ladder is an instructional rock climbing course designed for those who aspire to lead climb traditionally protected single and multi-pitch routes.  It consists of 4 x 2 hour evening sessions and a weekend in Squamish.

The Lead Ladder is not a formal qualification, merely an organised means of passing on skills. People will be closely mentored throughout the course, which has a 2:1 student to instructor ratio.  The basic idea is for people who have already done some roped climbing (perhaps top roping or sport) to gain skills and experience safely by leading routes well within their comfort zone of at least 5.7 and up (there is no mock leading).  Whilst you will learn skills required to lead climb, it won't teach you how to move on rock more efficiently or turn you into a 'climber' per se, but it should certainly accelerate that process.  Several people who attended previous years went from mainly top-roping in the Bluffs to full length routes on the Chief in the same season.

10 places are available.  If more than 10 apply, people will be selected based on their suitability for the course, how much time they have left at UBC to give some skills back and if all else is equal, on a first come first served basis. Please summarise the following in the comments section on the sign up: 

How long left in the VOC? Please be honest and state the most likely outcome if you don't know. 
Previous climbing experience (no more than a sentence, eg., 1 season leading sport upto 5.10a, top roping for 5 months before that).

Note that the four classroom sessions are open to anyone and will be between 6.30 and 8.30pm either by the chain link fence Across the road from Mahony's pub or at the wall in the Norm Theatre.  TO SIGN UP FOR THE EVENING SESSIONS, PLEASE USE THE WIKI PAGE:

http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Lead_Ladder_2015

The classroom sessions consist of: 

3 June Equipment (Theory) 
10 June Belay systems (Practical) 
17 Jun Hoists, Rescues & Emergencies 1 (Practical)

Two week gap

8 Jul Hoists, Rescues & Emergencies 2 (Practical)

If you want to attend the Lead Ladder weekend, please ask yourself the following questions before hitting the signup button. 

Do I have a minimum of 6 months outdoor climbing experience which includes lead belaying?
Can I usually top rope at least 5.8 outdoors cleanly? 
Am I happy falling off as a second or on a top rope? 
Do I want to / do I feel ready to lead? 
Have I got more than 1 year left in the VOC? 
Will I be attending VOC climbing meets so that the club can make use of my new skills? 

The answer to all of these should be yes, but the system isn't immune to flexibility. 

The Lead Ladder weekend is 11-12 July.  We will camp overnight in Squamish.

There will also be some background learning (not too much, mostly watching videos and a bit of reading), which I will organise soon.

Give me a call or post up if you have any questions.

 Jon Leighton

Posted: 2015-04-28 21:53:34
Last modified: 2015-06-08 06:33:49