MULTI-PITCH CLIMBING Become Independent (sports climbing)

A course for those with some basic climbing experience who want to discover the vertical world of sheer walls, airy aretes, classic corners and dramatic long routes. The course consists entirely of crag based workshops and guided instructional climbs of numerous pitches and up to 200 metres in length. These combine to enable the students to learn: how to choose appropriate routes; preparation for multi-pitch climbs; the skills needed on the route; and good systems of communication between climbing partners. During the course you will develop efficiency, fluid team work, free flowing rope management and confident route finding, all of which contribute towards completing long routes successfully. We will also teach you basic skills for dealing with special difficulties which can arise, increasing your levels of self-reliance and safety so that you can rise to ever greater challenges with confidence.

The first session is spent with some easy climbing and a look at basic crag skills and lead climbing, taking the time to establish these fundamentals depending upon your level of experience. The emphasis then turns to multi-pitch climbing. On guided instructional climbs participants carry out all the rope work and stance management for themselves, as if they were climbing as a self sufficient team. This method of instruction provides the ideal context for acquiring multi-pitch skills. On this course you will learn the skills and then put them into practice in a variety of real multi-pitch situations on excellent routes of quality and atmosphere. Meanwhile, your instructor will closely supervise and ensure your continual safety throughout.

All of the routes we use for the course are exceptional climbs in themselves. The exact routes depending on location and itinerary. In Montserrat, we often climb in Gorros area, Octanos 98, via Carles, Opera Prima or Stromberg. Climbing those iconic 170 meters towers, offering slabs, vertical and sometimes overhanging features. A succession of two or three abseils taking us to the descent path which winds through enchanted wooded gulleys and dry river beds back to base. Routes like this raise a range of technical challenges helping you to consolidate all the appropriate skills you will be taught. What better way to gain the skills necessary for multi-pitch climbing? Other routes usually climbed during this course are the 200 meter routes of Basalm del tigre & Terra de Dinosaure in Paret Bucolica overlooking the water flowing down from the Andorran Pyrenees.

Necessary and suggested equipment: Harness, Personal Anchor, Guide plate (Petzl Reverso, DMM Pivot) , climbing shoes and helmet are essential. Your own ropes, alpine quickdraws, slings and locking Karabiners are highly recommended)

Price: Can be found here Course Dates and Booking Information.  The price includes tuition, Barcelona pick up and drop off, transport to the climbing areas, insurance, accommodation and half board vegetarian meals with wine.

 More details of course content can be found Multipitch level 1 & Multipitch level 2

MULTI-PITCH CLIMBING Become Independent (Trad Climbing)

Whilst not a different course as such, we offer within the multipitch become independent week the possibility to focus on Trad climbing. This is reserved for people with previous multipitch experience, whilst trad experience is not essential. We also request that participants can sports climb lead confidently 6b minimum. Often people taking part in this option have already done the multipitch course with us and want to come back for more advanced rope management, rescue and the use of traditional gear to expand their climbing horizons. While enjoying excellent climbing in the spectacular surroundings of Montserrat or the Northwest Gorges of Catalunya, you will gain a grounding in the serious, but exciting, world of trad climbing. The course combines a series of well designed workshops, on cracks, corners, grooves and aretes, giving you the necessary tools and techniques to rise to the challenges offered by beautiful trad lines. 

The emphasis turns to the techniques and skills specific to trad climbing. Practical exercises give you hands on experience of placing gear, as you learn all the essentials about runner placement and building safe anchors. You will become familiar with a full range of possible gear placements, using a wide range and variety of equipment. In addition, the important skill of self-assessing placements will be developed. All of this is put into practice as you face challenging anchor building exercises. As the week progresses we go on to explore the practical considerations of placing runners on lead. Exercises on carefully selected routes provide you with experience of the issues relating to trad leading. Here the emphasis falls on the psychology, control and the techniques necessary for a good trad climbing style.

Necessary and suggested equipment: Harness, Personal Anchor, Guide Plate (Petzl Reverso/ DMM pivot ..), climbing shoes and helmet are essential. Your own ropes , Alpine quickdraws, Slings, Locking Karabiners and basic rack are highly recommended.

More details of course content can be found Trad Multipitch

Price: Can be found here Course Dates and Booking Information.  The price includes tuition, Barcelona pick up and drop off, transport to the climbing areas, insurance, accommodation and half board vegetarian meals with wine.