Do I need to bring a lunch?

Yes, you should bring a sack lunch and water bottle for this course.

At Alpenglow, we have only the highest standards of safety and guide qualifications. All of our rock climbing trips are led by AMGA certified SPI’s (single pitch instructors), certified rock instructors or certified rock guides. Our guides have extensive experience and knowledge with technical climbing equipment and risk management to ensure a safe day in the mountains! Furthermore, every Alpenglow program is supervised by an internationally licensed mountain guide (IFMGA/UIAGM). Alpenglow Expeditions is the only guide service in the region with such high standards, your family’s safety is our our top priority.

What is the typical group size for this climbing course?

Group sizes can vary depending on the course, however our maximum ratio of clients to guides is 4:1.

I am an experienced rock climber but I do not have a harness or helmet with me. Do you have this available to rent?

While owning your own gear is always the best option, Alpenglow provides rental gear at no additional cost. Equipment availability varies and is on a first come first serve basis. Please contact the office to inquire about borrowing gear!

What is your local adventures cancellation policy?

Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy

What kind of experience should I have before taking this course?

Climbers must be confident in use of equipment including belaying, rappelling and use of top rope systems. Lead climbing experience is recommended but not required.

Where can I purchase trip insurance?

We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.

Self Rescue For Rock Climbers

Mountain guide belays from ledge during a Private Half Day of Rock Climbing with Alpenglow Expeditions

Self Rescue For Rock Climbers

$299per person

Intermediate 1 full day (8 hours) North Lake Tahoe, CA

Our certified rock guides developed this rock climbing safety course to help you know what to do in case of an emergency at the crag. You’re experienced, but what do you do when your leader falls and can’t get down on their own? This course includes technical systems review, including belaying off the anchor, belay escapes, and rope ascending/descending to ensure that you can get down when things go awry.

June 7

Inquire

guided rock climbing in Lake Tahoe with professional mountain guides

Self Rescue Course

Rock Climbing Safety Course Overview

So you know how to climb, maybe you are even proficient at lead climbing. Have you ever thought about what would happen if something goes wrong?

What if the climber you are belaying gets injured, and you are unable to lower them back to the ground? Simple accidents like this have been the beginning of many serious injuries and even fatalities. With some basic theory and techniques, you will have the tools needed to confront these problems in a calm, systematic manner. This one-day skills course will teach you how to use the equipment you already are carrying, to improvise rescue systems and get you and your team out of a jam. These are skills that every climber needs to address any scenario on the wall.

Skills covered:
• Technical systems review, including belaying off the anchor
• Belay escapes
• Rope ascending and descending
• Counter balance ascending and descending with an injured climber
• Raising systems, including 3:1 and 5:1
• Lowering systems with a knot pass

THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE

As a Tahoe guide company with countless expeditions to high-altitude peaks around the world over the last 15 years, we bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our beloved “home mountain”. Our teaching and guiding philosophy has been honed from the flanks of the Himalayan giants to the technical peaks of Peru, and we are beyond excited to be able to bring our program to this fantastic mountain. In addition to our international expedition roots, we are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), being one of the very few guide services in the region to hold such a high standard. Each of our guides is trained by the AMGA in the terrain in which they operate, and the program is supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guides. This high standard, along with our many years of experience, translates to a fantastic mountain adventure!

Alpenglow Expeditions operates under special use permit with the Tahoe, Eldorado, Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyable and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Preparation

Technical

Guests should be familiar with technical rock climbing equipment and its basic uses.

8AM: Meet and Greet
Meet your guide and fellow classmates. Make introductions and set goals for the day.
8:45 AM – 12PM: Morning Skills Session
Rock protection overview and placement. Equalization principals. Anchor station and rope management.
12 – 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:30 – 3:30 PM: Afternoon Skills Session
Belaying off the anchor vs. the harness. Edge safety. Anchoring with natural objects.

Alpenglow’s California Guides

Our Lake Tahoe Rock Climbing Guides.

Meet who you will climbing with in Lake Tahoe

FAQ’s

Rock Climbing Safety Course Questions

The answers to our most commonly asked questions.

: Yes, you should bring a sack lunch and water bottle for this course.
: At Alpenglow, we have only the highest standards of safety and guide qualifications. All of our rock climbing trips are led by AMGA certified SPI’s (single pitch instructors), certified rock instructors or certified rock guides. Our guides have extensive experience and knowledge with technical climbing equipment and risk management to ensure a safe day in the mountains! Furthermore, every Alpenglow program is supervised by an internationally licensed mountain guide (IFMGA/UIAGM). Alpenglow Expeditions is the only guide service in the region with such high standards, your family’s safety is our our top priority.
: Group sizes can vary depending on the course, however our maximum ratio of clients to guides is 4:1.
: While owning your own gear is always the best option, Alpenglow provides rental gear at no additional cost. Equipment availability varies and is on a first come first serve basis. Please contact the office to inquire about borrowing gear!
: Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy
: Climbers must be confident in use of equipment including belaying, rappelling and use of top rope systems. Lead climbing experience is recommended but not required.
: We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.

Equipment

Lake Tahoe Rock Climbing Equipment List

Here’s what you’ll need to take our rock climbing safety course in Lake Tahoe.

Download Equipment Link

Select a category

Hat
Bring your favorite baseball hat for shelter from the sun. No white under the brim – the reflection off of it from the sun is blinding.
Recommended: Alpenglow Hat
Sunglasses
Must have dark lenses. Minimal light should come in below, above, or around the sides of the lenses.“Wrap” style is best. Ventilation is important and a retainer strap is very useful (Chums or Croakies).
Recommended: Vuarnet Ice Rounds
Approach Shoes
Recommended: La Sportiva TX4
Climbing Shoes
Recommended: La Sportiva TC Pro
Lightweight Top
Ultra-light base layer that effectively wicks moisture away from your body and is breathable. Quick-dry is important as well. One light-colored shirt is recommended for extremely sunny days.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
Sun Hoodie
Lightweight, long-sleeve sun hoody that is great for protecting from the sun.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
Hiking Pant
Lightweight, durable, quick-drying hiking pant that will be your day-to-day pant during the expedition
Men’s Recommended: Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant
Women’s Recommended: Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant
Small Backpack
Recommended: Black Diamond Speed 30 Pack
Two 1L Nalgene Bottles
Two 1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles.
Recommended: Nalgene 1 L wide mouth
Climbing Harness
Rock climbing harness that has gear loops, adjustable leg loops and waist belts. We recommend a harness that does not require the belt loop to be “double backed”.
Recommended: Black Diamond Zone Harness
Technical Kit
While the technical equipment needed for a specific objective and season varies, this basic kit is a great baseline. Your guide will bring gear for you to use during your course, but participants are encouraged to bring some or all of this if you own it or are interested in purchasing it.
1 Cordalette (6mm x 5m/16.4′)
4 locking carabiners
2 non-locking carabiners
1 double-length Dyneema sling
Small prusik loop (6mm x 112cm/44″)
Auto-blocking belay device (eg. ATC guide)
Micro Traxion or similar
Helmet
An easily adjustable lightweight helmet that fits with hat and Balaclava. Make sure this is a climbing-specific helmet. *Climbing helmets are also available to rent (for our introductory climbing courses) at no charge from Alpenglow Expeditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Recommended: Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

Testimonials

Alpenglow was an amazing company to work with
Alpenglow was an amazing company to work with from booking to the actual rock climbing lesson. We purchased the half-day lesson on Donner Summit, and were blown away with the knowledge of our guide, Pete. Climbing can be an intimidating sport for people to try, but Pete’s positive and playful personality made the day very enjoyable. I highly recommend this company for anyone looking for a fun and challenging adventure to do solo, with friends or with your family!
Natalie S.