MOUNTAIN TRAINING
ROCK SKILLS
Mountain Training is the collection of awarding bodies for skills courses and qualifications in walking, climbing and mountaineering in the UK and Ireland. Crag 2 Mountain are providers of Mountain Trainings nationally accredited Rock Skills scheme. Mountain Training Rock Skills courses provide a progressive introduction to the basic skills and techniques of rock climbing.
People climb outdoors for many reasons and a significant motivating factor is the sense of freedom that you gain from exploring crags and new routes. Challenging ourselves physically and mentally adds to the experience and builds our self-confidence and resilience.
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There are many crags and different rock types within the UK to explore with likeminded people. The partnerships forged during the early days of climbing are often friendships for life.
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We are providers of all 4 Mountain Training Rock Skills Courses:
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Who is it for?
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Beginners and those with some climbing experience wanting to the basics.
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Age:
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Minimum age is 10 years old and there is no maximum.
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Experience required:
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No experience required.
Course Details
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Contact time:
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8 hours over 1 day.
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Group size:
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Max. 6 people
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Course content:
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Climbing and Bouldering (low unroped climbing).
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Background and Planning - where to climb.
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Fundamental climbing movement skills.
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Equipment.
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Technical skills-tying in, belaying, spotting and abseils.
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Environmental knowledge.
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Hazards and emergency procedures.
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Location :
Hound Tor, Dartmoor
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Course cost:
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From £70 per person
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Outcomes of the Course
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To have lots of outdoors climbing experience over the course of the day.
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To be on your way to understanding the technical skills of tying in, spotting and belaying.
To be inspired to continue climbing and learning new skills.
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Be ready to attend a Rock Skills Intermediate Course.
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Mountain Training Rock Skills Intermediate course, Rock Climbing Skills Course, Rope Rigging course or Bespoke Climbing sessions.
ROCK SKILLS INTRODUCTION ​
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This course is your key to getting started as a complete beginner or if have some experience but aren't confident about using the equipment, finding crags or routes, and how to stay safe.
Who is it for?
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For people with some experience of climbing wanting to learn more.​
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Age:
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Minimum age is 12 years old and there is no maximum.
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Experience required:
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To have attended an introduction rock climbing course
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OR
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To have the experience of climbing and belaying 10 climbs indoors or outdoors.
However, we would recommend that you have some experience of climbing on rock.
Course Details
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Contact time:
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16 hours over 2 days
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Group size:
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Max. 4 people.
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Course content:
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Choosing venues and access.
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Increasing your climbing movement skills.
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Footwear and Equipment.
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Introduction to climbing protection.
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Technical skills - building/setting up anchors, selecting runners, competent belaying, seconding routes and personal abseils.
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Environment.
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Hazards and emergency procedures.
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Location :
Day 1 - Sheeps Tor, Dartmoor
Day 2 - Dewerstone, Dartmoor
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Course cost:
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From £125 per person
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Outcomes of the Course
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To have had lots of experience of outdoors climbing throughout the course.
To be in a strong position to second a lead climber outdoors climbing in a safe manner. ​
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To be confident belaying and tying in.
Have a basic understanding of climbing protection.
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Rock Skills Sport Learn to Lead, Rock Skills Trad Learn to Lead, Learn to Lead Indoors, Trad Learn to Lead, Coaching or Bespoke Rock Climbing
ROCK SKILLS INTERMEDIATE
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Rock Skills Intermediate course is ideal if you have some experience of climbing and want to learn how to become a safe belayer and competent second.
Who is it for?
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This course is also perfect if you are ready to progress to leading sport routes outside, if you are looking to improve your lead climbing confidence or refresh your leading skills. This course does not cover the skills required for leading trad routes.
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Age:
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Minimum age is 14 years old and there is no maximum.
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Experience required:
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ESSENTIAL
Have logged 20 indoor or outdoor climbs.
Have belayed on at least 20 occasions.
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DESIRABLE
Completion of Rock Skills Intermediate Course.
Course Details
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Contact time:
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16 hours over 2 days
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Group size:
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Max. 3 people.
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Course content:
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Choosing venues using guidebooks and mobile devices.
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Safe and assured movement on the lead and optimising natural rests for clipping bolts.
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Ropes and technical equipment for sport climbing.
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Technical skills - Fixed equipment, anchors, rope work, belaying, holding/taking falls in a controlled environment, lowering and lower offs.
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The impact of climbers at the crag, ethics, access and environmental considerations for climbers.
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Hazards and emergency procedures.
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Location :
Day 1 - Portland, Dorset
Day 2 - Portland, Dorset
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Outcomes of the Course
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To have had lots of experience of outdoors sport climbing throughout the course.
To be in a strong position to lead bolted sport routes on rock and indoors.
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To be confident lead belaying a climber.
To be confident in managing lowers off on a sport crag.
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Rock Skills Trad Learn to Lead, Learn to Lead Indoors, Trad Learn to Lead, Coaching or Bespoke Rock Climbing
ROCK SKILLS SPORT LEARN TO LEAD
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The Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport Climbs course will provide you with the skills you need to participate in bolted sport climbing, including an introduction to leading bolt protected climbs.
Who is it for?
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This course is also ideal if you are looking to improve your confidence or refresh your personal trad leading skills with the aim of helping you to become an independent climber and for those planning to complete the Rock Climbing Instructor scheme.
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Age:
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Minimum age is 14 years old and there is no maximum.
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Experience required:
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ESSENTIAL
Have belayed on at least 20 occasions; AND
Have seconded a minimum of 20 rock climbs at Very Difficult (VDiff) or above;
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Have led 20 sport climbs (indoors or outdoors).
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DESIRABLE
Completion of Rock Skills Intermediate and/or Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport.
Course Details
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Contact time:
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16 hours over 2 days
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Group size:
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Max. 3 people.
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Course content:
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Choosing venues using guidebooks, mobile devices and the importance of the climbing partnership.
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Safe and assured movement when leading climbs and optimising natural rests for placing gear.
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Ropes and technical equipment for lead climbing, contents of a lead rack and how to carry it, selection and function of gear.
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Technical skills - Selection and placement of suitable gear to protect leader and second, choosing anchors, effective ropework, attaching to multiple anchors, belaying, holding leader and second falls in a controlled environment.
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The impact of climbers at the crag, ethics, access and environmental considerations for climbers.
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Hazards and emergency procedures.
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Location :
Day 1 - Leigh Tor, Dartmoor
Day 2 - Dewerstone Rocks, Dartmoor
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Course cost:
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From £175 per person
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Outcomes of the Course
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To have had lots of experience of outdoors trad climbing throughout the course.
Be in a stronger position to lead trad routes on rock, using appropriate techniques and safe practice.
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To be confident lead belaying a climber.
A Learn to Lead Sport course is the next step in the Rock Skills pathway if you haven't already done one.
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Once you are a competent trad leader you may want to consider becoming a Rock Climbing Instructor.
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Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing, Mountaineering Weekend, Coaching or Bespoke Rock Climbing
ROCK SKILLS TRAD LEARN TO LEAD
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The Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad Climbs course will provide you with the skills you need to participate in traditionally (trad) protected climbing, including an introduction to leading simple trad climbs.