A fun after school program for youth ages 12 and up to build skills and confidence…
This program runs over consecutive 4 weeks and is designed for Nelson Youth to learn top roping at local crags. The goal of this program every week is to have a fun safe evening, while developing skills in communication and risk management to recreate in the outdoors.
In this program, participants will learn the basics to safely top rope climb outdoors. Topics covered will include basic climbing knots, movement skills, equipment use, top rope climbing techniques and general crag safety. Locations will include local climbing areas up to 15 minutes outside of Nelson.
Participants must bring their own climbing shoes, harness, and helmet (rental gear available). All other gear will be provided by Summit Mountain Guides. Transportation may be available for an extra charge. Please inquire upon registration and fill out the linked form below.
If you are interested in this program, please fill out this short questionnaire.
Week 1 – Meet at Rails to Trails Mountain Biking parking lot.
4:00 – Meet at parking lot, walk to The Ant Hill wall.
4:05 – Introduce goals of the evening, introductions/ice breakers, safety debrief.
4:30 – Demonstration of technical safety gear. Practice and assessment of everyone’s belaying technique.
6:00 – Snack/Dinner
6:20 – Supervised climbing.
7:15 – Cleanup, debrief, walk back to parking lot.
7:30 – See you next week!
*All weeks follow a similar schedule.
Week 2 – Meet at Rails to Trails Mountain Biking parking lot.
Week 3 – Meet at Riverside Crag parking area.
Week 4 – Meet at Gotham Crag parking area.
No previous climbing experience required however, previous climbing experience (indoors or outdoors) is an asset. Join us and safely learn this exciting sport from our skilled instructors.
This program will be run at rock climbing sites in Nelson or up to a 15-minute drive south of Nelson. Participants drop off and pick ups will be at the parking areas for CIC slabs, Riverside, and Gotham. Exact locations will be provided closer to the start date of this program. Locations are subject to change depending on weather.
Spring and fall temperatures in the West Kootenays can vary wildly from 0C to +20C during the day. Conditions can change from warm sunshine to isolated showers quickly. Ensure you are dressed for all variations as temperatures, wind and precipitation tends to change within the day.
This program will run rain or shine! If weather conditions are too hazardous for rock climbing, you can expect some fun alternate rainy-day programming outside.
How experienced do I need to be?
On this course, no previous climbing experience is required. This introduction to outdoor rock climbing course is for beginner climbers and climbers with some prior indoor climbing experience.
Is it safe?
For all of our climbing programs and courses, Summit Mountain Guides provides you with fully certified IFMGA/ACMG Mountain, alpine and rock guides. This guaranties you the highest safety standards in the industry. Rock climbing remains hazardous and while it is impossible to eliminate all the hazards, our guides will maximize your experience and greatly minimize the risks involved.
Where can I rent/buy climbing & outdoor equipment?
Here are a few outdoor stores in Nelson that supply good service and quality outdoor equipment and gear rental, please ensure you rent gear well in advance.
ROAM shop www.roamshop.com
Valhalla Pure Outfitters www.shop.vpo.ca
Will transportation be included?
Currently, there is no plan to provide transportation for participants. We can facilitate communication between parents who wish to carpool.
Please fill out the following questionnaire.
