Aid Climbing Seminar

The Spokane Mountaineers’ Aid Climbing Seminar is a capstone specialization for our rock-focused curriculum. The course is designed to introduce competent lead climbers to the principles, techniques, and equipment specific to aid and big wall climbing.

Upon completion of the course, participants will have been introduced to the skills needed to climb longer alpine routes with potential aid pitches and classic single-day aid routes. Examples of routes students climb upon completion of the seminar include the West Face of NEWS or East Direct Route of SEWS in the Liberty Group, Smith's West Face of Monkey Face, or Index's Town Crier.

Dates (2025): The next Aid Seminar course will run for four days split over two weekends in Fall 2025. The exact dates for this course are TBD. Please reach out to the program director if interested. The first weekend will be local in Spokane and the second weekend will be on location at Index, Smith Rock or equivalent. This schedule may be adjusted due to weather or other factors.

Cost: $150 per person*. The maximum class size is four people.

Duration: Four days split between two weekends. Each day will be roughly a 8-10 hour day as participants go from learning aid gear placements to the leading systems used for efficient aid climbing.

Location: The course is held throughout the inland northwest/cascades, depending on the weather and size of the group.

Instructors: Matt Jeffries, Andrew Ratcliff

*The $150 course fee will be billed upon acceptance to the course. The course is limited to 4 participants. All participants must be members of the Spokane Mountaineers. Join now if you are not a member already!

Course Specifics

Learning Objectives:

Aid-specific equipment and its use
Placement of gear for aid climbing
Use of aid-specific pro
Leading on aid gear
Following and cleaning on aid
Hooking and use of ladders
Jugging, following, and hauling
Understanding fixed lines in aid

Prerequisites:

Active Spokane Mountaineers Membership
Mountain School
Minimum of one year since completion of Trad Lead Climbing School and significant trad climbing experience
Actively trad climbing and can provide recent reference climbs
Completion of Alpine Seminar and/or High Angle Rescue is a bonus

Required Equipment:

Climbing Harness
Locking Non-locking Carabiners
Belay Device
Cordelette
Helmet
Rock Climbing Rack / Trad Gear
Rock Shoes
Right and left Ascender (Petzl ascenders preferred) (Only one pair needed per two students)

Application Process

Although this course is an introduction to the discipline of aid climbing, participants should have significant experience & mileage in trad climbing, and some experience with high-angle rescue principles. Applicants should be comfortable trad leading at a 5.8-5.9 grade before applying. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Matt and Drew at advancedclimbing@spokanemountaineers.org.

To apply for this course, please send an application email to advancedclimbing@spokanemountaineers.org and include the following:

Name
Contact Phone
Contact Address
Applicable Spokane Mountaineer Courses Completed (or equivalent)
Trad climbs completed in the last two years
What do you want to accomplish by taking this course?

The application window for this program is now open. We will be accepting applications through July 31st and will inform those who qualify for the program by Aug 15th.