Archive:Son of Rock 2015

Synopsis

Son of Rock is the traditional spring/summer instructional climbing trip. The rock is finally dry (hopefully), the snow sucks, and the days are long. The plan is to have several stations set up in the vicinity of the Smoke Bluffs in Squamish. There will be at least one (but most likely two) instructors at each station. All ability levels are welcome and no climbing experience is necessary. There will be 4 different climbing courses: 1: absolute beginner, 2: top rope anchor placements off bolts/trees and rappelling, 3: sport lead climbing (leading on bolt-protected routes), and 4: trad lead climbing (leading on chocks, cams, etc). Group sizes will be determined by instructor availability.

Trip organizer: Zack Wentz

Date

• May 9^th - 10^th, 2015
  

Overall Itinerary:

Saturday May 9th: 8:30am: Arrive Smoke Bluffs Parking lot and collect into pre-assigned groups. 9:00am: Leave Smoke Bluffs Parking lot for climbing areas (crags). 4:30pm: Regroup at parking lot and share stoke 5:00pm: Leave parking lot for food/campsite

Sunday May 10th: No official itinerary for this day. Your day's itinerary is dependent on your car group.

Pre Trip Meeting

Pre trip meeting will be on May 5th from 7:00pm to about 8:00pm in TBA

Sign up for Saturday instructors

Instructors, please sign up using the main sign-up tool. [1] Please indicate that you are an instructor and what you would be willing to teach and the climbing gear that you have. You can also sign up here if you prefer.

Here is a curriculum of what you might teach in each level [2]. It is a bit on the ambitious side (especially for rock 2) and likely you won't have time to cover everything. We can discuss the details at the instructor meeting which will occur approx. 1 hour before the pre-trip meeting on May 5th. There likely will be some instructor email-faff going on before Son of Rock.

Rock 1: Intro to Rock climbing

For those of you who have never climbed before and want to learn the basics

• Gear you need

1. Harness (can rent that from the club room). Make sure it fits you (ask the quartermaster for help fitting it).
2. Helmet (also available at club room. Bicycle Helmet works too. It's not so much about hitting you head, it's more about stuff being dropped onto your head, such as stones or gear)
3. Climbing shoes. They should fit snugly but not so tight that they 'really' hurt. Available at the club room.
4. A locking carabiner and a belay device. The VOC does not rent those out due to liability concerns. You can get them at MEC. These can be shared in teams of two as only one will be climbing and one will be belaying. Most people get this here belay device. It's relatively cheap but still works perfectly. For carabiners, get one with a screw lock and one that isn't too small (D- and Pear shape are best for belaying).
5. Optional*** If you want to learn how to rapel: a prussic. cord is available from the club or MEC, and we will show you how to tie it, etc.

• Instructors

1. please only sign up here Son of Rock 2014#Sign up for Saturday instructors for now

• Students

1. please only sign up here [3]

• Waitlist

1. please only sign up here [4]

Rock 2: Intro to making top rope anchors and rappeling

For those who want to move from gym climbing to outdoor climbing and don't know how to make safe anchors for top-roping. Please bring all the climbing equipment that you own. Helmets are MANDATORY as is something to anchor yourself such as [5] or just a sling will do but it may be less comfortable. We will be covering all different types of anchor setup. Please indicate if you would like to spend some time climbing or focus more on setting up different anchors with different equipment)

• Needed equipment: helmet, harness, climbing shoes, something to anchor yourself, at least one locking biner
• Recommended equipment: belay device + locking biner, 4 locking biner(s) for anchors, slings, cordalette, cord for tying friction hitches (eg prussik cord)

(ask your instructor for details at the pre-trip meeting).

If you have a rope or can borrow one from a friend, please bring it.

• Instructors

1. please only sign up here Son of Rock 2014#Sign up for Saturday instructors for now

• Students

1. please only sign up here [6]

• Waitlist

1. please only sign up here [7]

Rock 3: Intro to lead climbing (sport)

For those interested in learning how to lead.

Gear needed: all the gear needed for rock 2 (helmet, climbing shoes, harness, prussik+biner, anchor gear, personal anchor system or dedicated sling for that). If you have or can borrow from a friend please also bring: a rope and quickdraws

• Instructors

1. please only sign up here Son of Rock 2014#Sign up for Saturday instructors for now

• Students

1. please only sign up here [8]

• Waitlist

1. please only sign up here [9]

Rock 4: Intro to trad climbing

For those interested in learning how to properly place trad gear (and climb while you're at it).

For rock 4 you need all the rock 3 gear. If you have or if you can borrow from a friend please also bring: a rope, quickdraws, trad gear.

• Instructors

1. please only sign up here Son of Rock 2014#Sign up for Saturday instructors for now

• Students

1. please only sign up here [10]

• Waitlist

1. please only sign up here [11]

Sign up for Saturday instructors

Instructors, please sign up using the main sign-up tool on the Trip Agenda [12]; but also on this page right below. Please indicate your Rock levels (1,2, 3 or 4) you'd be willing AND competent to teach. Also, if you DO NOT have the proper gear for your rock level you intend to instruct, please note this below. If you have any questions regarding your competence in teaching a specific rock level, feel free to ask any questions to me at: zachary.wentz@gmail.com. Please sign up below:

Here is a curriculum of what you might teach in each level [13]. It is a bit on the ambitious side (especially for rock 2) and likely you won't have time to cover everything. If you have any questions regarding the cirriculum, logistics, etc; we can discuss the details at the instructor meeting which will occur approx. 1 hour before the pre-trip meeting on May 5th. You are also welcome to emailing me at: zachary.wentz@gmail.com with any questions you may have.