What to Expect on an Intro to Trad Climbing Course

An Intro to Trad Climbing course introduces you to the skills and judgement required to second traditional routes safely and responsibly with an experienced lead climber. Trad climbing is about placing your own protection, managing risk, and making good decisions — not just getting up the rock.

This course focuses on understanding systems, building trust in equipment, seconding a lead climber, and developing confidence at a steady, supported pace.

Learn how to place and remove gear on a trad climb

Who Is This Course For?

This course is ideal if you:

• Already climb outdoors (sport or top/bottom-rope)

• Want to start seconding trad climbs with future progression to leading

• Are curious about placing gear but unsure where to begin

• Want a solid, safety-focused foundation

You don’t need trad experience, but basic outdoor climbing familiarity is important.

What Skills Will You Learn?

During the course, you’ll work on:

• Understanding trad climbing equipment

• Placing, removing and assessing nuts and cams

• Building confidence in gear

• Seconding routes

• Managing ropes and communication

The emphasis is on good habits and sound judgement, and becoming a competent second.

How the Day Runs (Public Courses)

Public Intro to Trad courses typically:

• Start at 10:00

• Finish around 16:00

• Take place at suitable, beginner-friendly trad venues

• Progress from ground-based skills to climbing applications

You’ll build skills step by step, with plenty of time to practice and ask questions.

Bespoke Intro to Trad Courses

Bespoke courses allow the day to be tailored precisely to you.

Before the course, we’ll discuss:

• Your climbing background

• Your confidence with rope systems

• Your goals for trad climbing

This allows us to tailor:

• Venue and route choice

• Pace of progression

• Skills focus

Ideal if you want maximum learning in a single day or are training with a partner.

Seconding routes is a great introduction to trad climbs!

How Demanding Is the Course?

Mentally, trad climbing is more demanding due to decision-making and judgement. Physically, routes are chosen to keep the focus on learning rather than difficulty.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end of the course, you should feel:

• Comfortable handling trad equipment

• More confident assessing protection

• Clear on the steps toward leading

• Ready to practice safely and progress

What Comes Next?

Intro to Trad Climbing naturally leads into:

• Learn to Lead Trad

• Guided Climbing

• Intro to Multipitch Climbing