Traditional Climbing (Trad)
Traditional (Trad) Climbing is a treasured discipline in the UK climbing scene that involves climbing without leaving traces on the rockface. This skill can open new climbing opportunities both nationally and all over the world - from climbing on a single pitch crag to climbing mountains.
Essential Climbing can help you learn this fundamental set of climbing techniques and develop your skills until you’re ready to climb independently.
Our Services
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Ratio 1:1 £160 1 day
1:1 £300 2 days
Ratio 1:2 £180 1 day
1:2 £340 2 days
Climbing Clan full member
Ratio 1:2 £140 1 day
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Max Ratio is 1:2
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The only kit you will need is your personal climbing shoes.
If you have your own personal kit please bring it. I will check it is okay before climbing.
You will be outdoors all day so you will need to dress appropriately.
When booking on a kit list will be sent to help you.
Learning how to Trad climb
Trad climbing sessions start, like all Essential Climbing sessions, with a conversation that ascertains what would best suit you. I need to know about your prior climbing experience and what you are looking to achieve. From this I can assess your needs and select a venue that would best suit.
The day will start by meeting at a given location and walking to the venue. Please note we will be at the venue all day and there may be no facilities nearby.
Each trad climbing session is built around you and your previous experiences, but you can expect to be involved in, learn or recap on:
use of guidebooks and route selection
placing gear & building anchors
learning how to build personal abseils
belaying & seconding
problem solving
and, of course, lead climbing
Trad climbing does have more variables than indoor climbing and sport climbing. Consequently, it will take more time to build your skills and knowledge. Learning to climb outdoors using traditional techniques isn’t going to happen overnight and skills may need to be revisited several times before you are comfortable enough to lead. Trad climbing sessions with Essential Climbing are designed to help make the transfer to trad techniques as simple as possible, furthering your understanding of the discipline and developing your skills each time you visit the crag.
