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Rock Anchoring & Gear Placement

1 Day in California, Lake Tahoe / (Skill level: Introductory)

Price per person

$275 Midweek, $299 Weekends
  • Next Available: May 20, 2023 -
  • Upcoming: Jun 03, 2023
  • Jun 17, 2023
  • Jul 01, 2023
  • Jul 15, 2023
  • Jul 29, 2023
  • Aug 12, 2023
  • Aug 26, 2023
  • Sep 09, 2023
  • Sep 23, 2023
  • Oct 07, 2023
  • Oct 21, 2023
  • Nov 04, 2023

About this trip

Become familiar with equalization principles and protection used in rock climbing. Learn how to safely set up your own top-rope systems, perform a top-belay, create a master point, how to build trad anchors and properly utilize natural anchors, and how to place trad gear while climbing. This course is intended to leave you with the skills necessary to become more self-sufficient on the rock.

Overview

  • skill level

    Introductory

  • Duration

    1 Day

This skills day is for climbers who are looking to expand their skills and learn the techniques to become more self-sufficient. We will introduce the concepts relating to all types of anchors used in rock climbing, and the student will come away from the course ready to set up and use their own top rope anchors, and have a much better understanding of technical systems used in rock climbing. The ultimate goal is that climbers will walk away from this course with the practical skills to safely pursue their own climbing adventures.

If you already own climbing shoes, harness, helmet, or other climbing gear, feel free to bring them along. Alpenglow provides harness, helmet and shoes free of charge if needed. If you do require climbing shoes, please state so on your application, along with your shoe size.

Alpenglow Expeditions operates under a special use permit from the Tahoe, Inyo, and Eldorado National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

Preparation

  • Fitness

    Climbers must be in good overall physical shape able to be active outside for many hours.

  • Technical Experience

    Climbers must have basic rock climbing experience including belaying, rappelling and use of top rope systems.

    • 8:30am — Meet & Greet

      Meet and greet, introductions, goals of the day.

    • 8:45am - 12:00pm — Morning Skills Session

      Begin learning anchoring skills in various settings.

    • 12:00pm - 12:30pm — Lunch

      Quick break for lunch and taking in the views.

    • 12:30pm - 3:30pm — Afternoon Skills Session

      Continue building on skills that were learned during the morning session.

      • Equipment

    • Will I be able to confidently build anchors after taking this course?

      Yes, once you’ve gone through this day long course you will be able to assess and build an anchor in a variety of scenarios.

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

      Climbers must have basic rock climbing experience including belaying, rappelling and use of top rope systems.

    • What is the typical group size for this course?


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

    • I do not have a harness or helmet. Do you have this available to rent?

      While owning your own gear is always the best option, Alpenglow does provide rental gear at no additional cost.

    • Do I need to bring a lunch?

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

Tim Dobbins

With notable first descents in the Alps, Tim Dobbins represents Alpenglow’s cutting edge guiding philosophy providing only the best guides for every trip and expedition.

Growing up in Oregon, Tim started out skiing at the young age of 4 years old. Tim grew up ski racing for 9 years before he moved on to backcountry skiing in Aspen, Colorado. He spent 4 years working as ski patrol at Snowmass Ski Resort.

Tim moved to Chamonix in the mid-’90s where he spent 6 seasons skiing and climbing while studying French. Tim says that Chamonix is where he really started learning how to ski tour, rock climb, ice climb and eventually began skiing the steepest lines he could find.

Examples of those steep lines were the North-East face of Les Courtes, Couloir Barbey from Aiguille D’Argentiere, Couloir Couturier from L’Aiguille Verte, Couloir du Diable on Mont Blanc du Tacul, East face of the Matterhorn and many, many others.

Tim has spent the last 10 years guiding and instructing in rock, ice, alpine, and skiing. He is an AMGA/IFMGA mountain guide, and lives on Donner Lake in Truckee with his wife Gisele, sweet daughter Manue and son Matisse.

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA - American Mountain Guide
  • IVBV IFMGA UIAGM - Mountain Guide

Ray Hughes

Ray is an IFMGA / AMGA Licensed Mountain Guide. His passion for the mountains ignited while growing up in Northern California, exploring the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges, followed by years honing his mountain skills in Colorado and Switzerland. As one of our core guides, Ray brings the same excitement to guiding and instructing in Lake Tahoe as skiing and alpine guiding in Europe to expeditions anywhere in the world. Sharing experiences, culture, and beautiful places with others blurs the line between work and play.

He is an AIARE Avalanche Course Leader and an American Avalanche Association professional member. Ray also works as a snow safety consultant for professional winter sport athletes and photographers.

He was a 4 x All American in Track and Field and the 250th American to ever run the Mile under 4:00, but now enjoys being an average trail jogger.

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA - American Mountain Guide
  • IVBV IFMGA UIAGM - Mountain Guide

Dave Nettle

Dave’s love for outdoor challenge, adventure and fun began early in his life with Boy Scout backpacking and mountaineering trips in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1972 he started his lifelong pursuit and joy of rock climbing with his first climbs deep in the Sierra Nevada backcountry, which remains his favorite mountain range to share and enjoy.

In 1975, at age 17 he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail solo from Mexico to Canada and the following year hiked the Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico, sealing his passion for grand adventure and determination to accomplish what he sets out to do.

Dave’s underlying philosophy of living life fully and approaching the world of adventure travel and alpinism with “confident uncertainty” has led him to the mountain ranges of the world where his climbing accomplishments are just a part of what he values.  At the heart and soul of it all is the experience of interacting with, and learning from, the people, places and cultures along the way and sharing the challenge and beauty of wilderness with friends.

In addition to five decades of rock and alpine climbing which have included new routes and significant ascents throughout North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, Dave is an accomplished ski mountaineer who hangs up his climbing shoes each winter in favor of backcountry alpine ski touring and hut to hut ski tours in the European Alps.

Dave brings 15 years of technical Rope Access and Rescue Training experience to the team.  He has helped pioneer the use of Rope Access methods to complement traditional mountaineering based techniques to improve the safety and efficiency of ski lift, gondola, high angle and crevasse rescue procedures.  He has been a SPRAT certified Rope Access Level 3 Technician since 2002.

His blend of outdoor skills, professionalism and sense of humor make for memorable trips, not to mention epic slide show presentations which he loves to share with others. Dave is the founder of a free community slideshow series in the Tahoe area that has been ongoing since 1988 and continues to inform, entertain and inspire everyone to seek out and accomplish their dreams and goals. You can learn more about the Alpenglow Winter Film Series here.

Guide Certifications
  • IRATA

Pete Fasoldt

Pete Fasoldt is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide who is thrilled to call Donner Summit his “home crag”. Originally hailing from Maine, Pete has worked as a ski patroller, as the owner of a rock guiding outfit in Acadia National Park, and as a first mate on sail boats, traveling thousands of offshore miles, including a recent attempt at transiting the famed Northwest Passage. Pete has completed several ascents of El Capitan, including a one-day solo. He has established first ascents in several countries across the globe and has a particular love of hard to reach alpine granite objectives. In 2004 and 2006 Pete became certified as a Wilderness First Responder and an Outdoor Emergency Care technician, respectively. Pete has guided people of all different climbing abilities, all over the country, and brings patience, humor, and a deep love of the sport to each course he leads.

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA Certified Rock Guide

Jarad Stiles

Jarad is a Tahoe native. A love for wild places is instilled in his nature. He has worked as a Rock Climbing Guide on Donner Summit for 8 years. Recently, he has found a new home in Joshua Tree, California, teaching rock climbing during the winter months. Climbing in Yosemite Valley honed his craft and forged his bond with the Big Stone. Multiple accents of El Cap, Half Dome, The Leaning Tower, and Washington Column (in a day) have led the way to Jarad’s success in the mountains.

Jarad, his lovely wife Dana, and their adorable puppy, Ruca embody the California spirit by chasing long days in the sun and living comfortably in balance with nature.

 

Jarad is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide and Single Pitch Instructor.

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA Certified Rock Guide
  • AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor

Logan Talbott

co-owner / chief guide

Logan has been guiding professionally for over a decade in the disciplines of Rock, Alpine and Ski Mountaineering. When not out guiding, Logan spends time in the office helping the team with the day-to-day operations of the business. From one day ascents of El Capitan to big Alpine climbs in the Himalaya, from ski descents on Denali to backyard ski tours in Lake Tahoe, he can’t help but smile when out running around the hills. Logan is an AMGA/IFMGA mountain guide, an Avalanche course leader with AIARE, as well as a wilderness EMT. In addition to guiding, Logan has extensive experience in mountain rescue, having worked for rescue teams in both Yosemite and Denali National Parks, and volunteering locally for Tahoe Nordic SAR. When not out in the hills, he lives in Truckee, CA with his lovely wife Lynette and daughter Maggie.

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA - American Mountain Guide
  • IVBV IFMGA UIAGM - Mountain Guide

Nolan Van Herk

Nolan embodies the spirit, history, and progression of climbing, crimping and jamming his way through over a decade of experience on the rocks. Whether he’s scaling Sierra spires, wiggling up walls or cramming his crack-addicted (and never taped) hands into Tahoe splitters, Nolan’s enthusiasm and knowledge is contagious. Cutting his teeth on the rough granite monzonite of Joshua Tree and the polished proving grounds of Tahquitz, Nolan’s climbing developed amidst the proud ethics and traditions established by the Stonemasters. Ascents of the Rainbow Wall in Red Rock, Sierra gems such as Bastille Buttress, the Incredible Hulk, and Mt. Whitney as well as numerous Needles classics solidify Nolan’s traditional climbing resume and hint at his passion for big adventure. Nolan’s love for the mountains and appreciation for wild places cannot be contained solely by climbing; his backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering resume includes a descent from the third highest mountain in North America, Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba, as well as numerous corn-cruising missions on Mt. Shasta. Nolan is no stranger to those huge, soul-feeding days in the alpine and enjoys sharing outdoor experiences large and small with those around him. Nolan currently holds the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder certification, and is an AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide. 

Guide Certifications
  • AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor

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    Rock Anchoring & Gear Placement

Rock Anchoring & Gear Placement

Become familiar with equalization principles and protection used in rock climbing. Learn how to safely set up your own top-rope systems, perform a top-belay, create a master point, how to build trad anchors and properly utilize natural anchors, and how to place trad gear while climbing. This course is intended to leave you with the skills necessary to become more self-sufficient on the rock.