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Advanced Level Course

Two day course

El Potrero Chico offers great terrain for practicing fair weather big wall climbing in the winter time. The rock on routes such as "Sendero del Diablo" is strong, cracked, pocketed, and protected by bolts every 12-15 ft. This offers ample opportunities to practice ascending ropes, placing clean aid gear, hooking, and  switching from aid to free climbing all while being protected by bolts. This is a great course for anyone looking to climb their first big wall in Yosemite when spring rolls around. Forget paying expensive guides in the States or Europe. Come take a cheap vacation to Mexico this winter and learn everything you need to know about hauling, jugging, lower outs, cleaning, and much more. This can also be taken as the first two days of a guided big wall package. In this package we will spend the following two climbing days on the wall as we climb and haul ourselves and gear up a 1500 ft. face.

  • If you have questions please email us:
  • Know these skills? Click here for next course: Multi-pitch Resuce Course

  • Skills covered:

    • Seconding:
      • Ascending aka "jugging"
      • Cleaning Pitons and clean aid gear efficiently
      • Cleaning Traverses
      • Rope management
      • Lower outs while ascending
    • Leading:
      • How to place quick gear and move efficiently
      • How to place pitons, hooks, bashies, peckers and beaks
      • When and how to safely back clean
      • Hauling
      • Short fixing
      • Safe rope fixing considerations for the second ("people don't die climbing they die jugging" because ropes running over edges cut)
    • Climb Preparation
      • How to read a topo
      • How to select gear for the climb
      • How to ration food and water
    • How to bail
      • Knowing when to bail
      • Having a plan ahead of time

    Course Prerequisites:

    Applicants must have taken our Intermediate Level Single Pitch Rescue Course or can lead 5.9 climbs, rappel unprompted and have experience placing artificial gear and building anchors. Applicants must have their own rack if they desire to practice placing  pitons, hooks, bashies, peckers or beaks.

     

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