Learn to Climb Outside with Guided Support

No experience is required for Wednesday Intro to Outdoor Climbing. It's specifically designed for people who have never climbed outside before.

For Tuesday Sport and Thursday Trad sessions, some basic climbing experience is helpful but not required. If you're not sure where you fit, start with a free Wednesday and you'll know by the end of the session exactly what your next step is.

Most climbers are surprised by how quickly the foundational skills come together.

After one or two Wednesday Foundations sessions you should feel comfortable with your personal gear: harness, helmet, and shoes and tie a perfect figure-eight followthrough, confidently top rope belay, and have a clear understanding of how outdoor climbing works and what your next steps are.

After three to four Tuesday Sport sessions most climbers can belay a lead climber, clean a sport anchor, set up a top rope on a sport climb, and begin leading lower-grade sport routes outdoors.

Trad takes longer and that's by design. It starts with understanding the gear itself such as how each piece works and why and building that into confident anchor construction.

From there the focus shifts to the full system: what to think about when leading on gear, how to manage a trad belay, and how to make sound decisions at the crag.

The final milestone is placing gear on a lead, building an anchor at the top, and rappelling down.

Most climbers take one to two months to work through the full trad progression and dial it all in and that's completely normal.

All climbing gear is provided including harness, helmet, shoes, and rope.

Bring water, sunscreen, and wear comfortable clothes you can move in. Closed-toe shoes are required if you're not using climbing shoes. Layers are smart for evening sessions in Boulder Canyon, even in summer.

Sport climbing sessions focus on lead climbing, movement, and managing sport routes like the skills needed to show up at a crag and climb confidently. Anchor sessions focus on gear, anchors, and the decision-making behind traditional climbing. Most climbers start with sport and add anchors once they're comfortable leading outdoors. Some come specifically for anchor systems from the beginning. Both are open to anyone who has completed Foundations.

Six climbers maximum per session, always led personally by Matt. This isn't a guided tour or a gym class, it's deliberate small-group instruction where you're actually getting coached, not managed.

Possibly. If you're comfortable at the crag and manage your own anchors and systems confidently, this program may be below your level. If you've climbed outside but still feel uncertain about anchors, lead climbing, or trad gear, that's exactly the gap this program is built to close.

When in doubt, email matt@ropewranglers.com and describe where you're at.

No. Lead climbing is something we progress toward — not something you’re forced to do.

Many climbers begin by learning anchors, rope systems, and movement on top rope before deciding if they want to lead. Fear of falling is completely normal, and we approach it gradually with practice, good systems, and supportive coaching.

The goal of these sessions isn’t to push you into scary situations — it’s to build the skills and confidence that make outdoor climbing feel manageable and safe.