Maine Rock Climbing - Equinox Guiding Service

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Climbing School

Climbing School is an essential part to where we start our programs. We start every program learning the basics. This allows us to customize your experience and tailor it to your needs and desires.

BEGINNER COURSE

Learn the ropes with our climbing crew! 

Perfect for anyone who wants to try climbing for the first time, this course provides an unforgettable experience and instill the confidence to keep at it!

Spend a full or half-day learning the basics of climbing while experiencing breathtaking views of where the mountains meet the sea. You’ll begin by learning climbing systems before trying them out for yourself.

GYM TO CRAG

Are you well versed in climbing at the gym? Want to see how those skills translate to the outdoors? Now is the perfect time to learn with all the necessary skills with professional guidance to ensure you’re climbing safely.


Gym to Crag is designed for climbers who are already been lead climbing in the gym. These full-day classes meet at the Barrett Cove parking lot to go over the basics before moving to the mountain!

TOP ROPE SET UP

Now that you know how to belay, would you learn how to set up your own top ropes so you can venture out on your own? 

This is the class for you! 

Our goal is to teach you basic anchor construction for top-rope climbing with an emphasis on safety and hands-on practice. A full day of instruction starting at the base of Barrett’s Cove cliff in Camden Hills State Park.

ANCHOR BUILDING

In this hands-on program, you’ll learn the basics of building anchor systems

We cover:

  • climbing gear

  • knots

  • evaluation and use of natural and fixed protection

  • equalizing forces on the anchor

Designed for participants with climbing and belaying experience, this course does not cover climbing movement but instead focuses on the construction and assessment of anchors in different crack environments.

Lead Climbing Class

Learning to take the sharp end of the rope is a stepping stone in anyones climbing career. Our Introduction to Lead climbing course will answer all your questions. The objective of this program is to introduce climbers to the techniques required for leading single and multi-pitch traditional rock routes while advancing technical and movement skills.

The Learn to lead course addresses each of the components required to safely and successfully lead a traditional rock climb.

Course highlights include:

  • Get properly trained on techniques and using your gear

  • Assess your mental readiness

  • Do a mock lead

  • Start easy

  • Know how to manage risk

Bouldering Intro to Spotting

Spotting is one of the most crucial parts to any good bouldering project and it takes a bit more of knowledge of the human body then you might think. The basic principal is to protect the climber from banging their head or neck. Building a solid foundation of stance with an athletic stance and the ability to catch someone that is about to have a foot slip or a hand pop will the bring the attentive spotter above and beyond.

Presence is key, awareness of the climb, ability to know where the hard part is.

Using our hands up and arms ready, not strait armed or strait legged but a balanced stance that is ready to cushion a fall. Using forks not spoons is crucial as a way to not injure yourself in the process of helping your friend. adjusting the pads as needed along the way can be a engaging way to protect where the ankles and feet. Different problems will provide different spotter solutions being able to think analytically and on your feet will put the sharp headed person ahead on the spotter front.