Presented by Arc’teryx
Flash Foxy Education courses are only open to women and genderqueer climbers. All courses will be taught by women and genderqueer instructors.
Dates: Saturday 04/27 - Sunday 04/28
Location: Washington D.C. (Great Falls)
Instructors: Sean Taft-Morales (they/them)
Guide Service Partner: Sportrock
Course Description: Flash Foxy’s Intro to Trad Climbing* course equips climbers with the skills they need to explore the adventurous practice and spirit of traditional climbing whether you're new to the craft or trying to refine the skills you already have. We’ll cover the essentials like learning how to place stoppers and cams, and we’ll also have candid conversations about risk and how to manage it when the variables start to add up. Our instructors will provide low-risk practice environments for practice and review the skills you need to continue your practice after the course. Plus tips on how to go live when you’re ready!
Learning Outcomes:
Have a working knowledge of key equipment, including climbing shoes, harnesses, helmets, chalk, climbing rope, slings/cordelette, carabiners, quickdraws and alpine draws, cams and stoppers, and belay/rappel devices.
Experience and participate in common practices, including stretching, warming up, reading a route, and working a route.
Practice (mock) belaying a lead climber with an assisted-braking device, including setting up to belay, managing the rope, taking and giving slack, catching falls, and lowering a climber.
Practice (mock) leading up and lowering down a route, including tying-in with the figure eight follow-through, placing and clipping gear, finding and maintaining stances, managing the rope, falling, and doing system checks with their belayer.
Practice building and cleaning common single-pitch anchors, including via lowering + rappelling.
Practice and receive coaching on basic and intermediate climbing movement.
Be knowledgeable about trad climbing jargon.
Connect with other climbers interested in trad climbing.
Climber Requirements: Participants have top roped a minimum of ten climbs on at least three separate occasions (indoor or outdoors). Experience sport climbing (indoors or outdoors) and/or following trad climbs is helpful but not required.
*Trad climbing is a form of lead climbing. The climber and rope both start at the bottom, and the climber clips the rope to temporary anchor points (i.e. removable protection placed in the rock like stoppers and cams) as they ascend the wall. At the top, the climber establishes a more robust anchor and lowers or rappels off. Climbers and belayers must be aware of a number of additional factors while leading and belaying leading, including the potential for more impactful falls.
Cost: We are thrilled to be able to offer a sliding scale of $50-$400 for our two-day clinics thanks to Arc’teryx, our Education Partner. If $50 is cost prohibitive, you are invited to apply for a full scholarship by clicking here.
How does sliding-scale pricing work? How much should I pay?
It’s up to you how much you pay, but here are some things you can keep in mind when deciding what price is best for you. The average cost of a 2-day guided course is about $350. All the tuition payments go right back into this program so that we can run more courses and provided more full scholarships!
Here’s a loose guideline to help you decide where you might fall on the sliding-scale:
It can be hard to pay rent and cover other basic necessities > Apply for a scholarship!
I can pay for basic necessities, but I do not have extra income for things like a climbing gym membership > Apply for a scholarship!
I can pay for basic necessities and some luxury items like a climbing gym membership > $50-$100
I am able to afford or save up for occasional weekend trips and the costs associated with that (rental car, park fees, owning gear, etc) > $100-$200
I can afford regular weekend trips and the costs associated with that (rental car, park fees, owning gear, etc) > $200-$300
I am financially comfortable and able to help support scholarships for future course participants > $300-$400
*Please also consider that income is not the same as wealth. Income is the amount of money you make. Wealth is passed down from generation to generation and usually takes the form of inheritances, land ownership, and/or earning power. We ask that you take into account not only your income but also your wealth when choosing your price point within our sliding scale.
For more information on our refund policy, please check our Education FAQs.