Upcoming Classes & Clinics:
CLIMBING SCHOOL COURSES & PROGRAMS
The Climbing School at Pacific Edge is staffed by professional instructors who represent the highest standards in the industry. The Climbing School offers instruction ranging from basic belay skills to advanced movement and technical climbing skills including: crack climbing, lead climbing, anchor skills, and big-wall climbing for students age 15 and up.
The climbing school at Pacific Edge is a first rate technical climbing program. It is far more than just an "indoor program," comprising the most thorough and complete curriculum of any gym in the United States. The core of this program is the leadership of owners Tom Davis and Diane Russell. Their combined climbing experience spans over 100 years, covering 5 continents and every discipline of the vertical world, from sport climbing to high altitude mountaineering.
Pacific Edge is accredited by the Climbing Gym Association of America Climbing Clinics and Classes.
Basic Classes
Basic Safety
The most thorough safety class in the country!
Topics covered in this 2-hour course include: Knots – Harness – Belay skills – Climbing and lowering safely on a top-rope- Facility Introduction.
Thursdays 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Saturdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm, & Sundays 10:30am - 12:30pm
Please Note: Due to the course curriculum we are not able to accommodate those showing up later than 5 minutes after the start time of the course.
Cost: $38 non-members, $24 UCSC & Cabrillo students/faculty/staff (valid ID required).
Day pass, shoes, and harness rental are included in the price of the Basic Safety class.
Rockin’ Through the Weekend: Combine the Basic Safety class and the Next Step class for an intensive climbing introduction. These two classes can be taken successively in one weekend or spread out over two weekends, for the same great price of $60.
Topics covered in this 2-hour course include: Knots – Harness – Belay skills – Climbing and lowering safely on a top-rope- Facility Introduction.
Thursdays 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Saturdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm, & Sundays 10:30am - 12:30pm
Please Note: Due to the course curriculum we are not able to accommodate those showing up later than 5 minutes after the start time of the course.
Cost: $38 non-members, $24 UCSC & Cabrillo students/faculty/staff (valid ID required).
Day pass, shoes, and harness rental are included in the price of the Basic Safety class.
Rockin’ Through the Weekend: Combine the Basic Safety class and the Next Step class for an intensive climbing introduction. These two classes can be taken successively in one weekend or spread out over two weekends, for the same great price of $60.
Next Step
This two hour class is an introduction to: Primary Climbing Techniques- Proper Body Positions - Footwork and Movement. Get started with some good vertical technique by taking the Next Step. Saturdays 3:30 - 5:30PM & Sundays 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM $38 non-members/$32 for members.
Free Clinics
Clinics are free to members or guests who have purchased a day pass, punch card, or month pass.
Clinic topics include:
- Lead Belaying
- Bouldering
- Crack Climbing
- Footwork
- Knots
- Bolt Safety and Identification
- Slackline Clinic
Climbing technique
Climbing 101
The Best Introduction to Climbing!
This Co-ed course includes six weeks of instruction, 2 hours once a week. Basic Safety and progressive movement techniques covered in this course. Cost includes FULL membership and equipment for the duration of the class.
Age 15+.
$175/$110 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended. Price includes FULL membership to the gym for the duration of the course. Registration for some 101 Series occurs through Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
This Co-ed course includes six weeks of instruction, 2 hours once a week. Basic Safety and progressive movement techniques covered in this course. Cost includes FULL membership and equipment for the duration of the class.
Age 15+.
$175/$110 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended. Price includes FULL membership to the gym for the duration of the course. Registration for some 101 Series occurs through Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
Bouldering 101
This exciting and dynamic class is great if you are new to bouldering or an experienced climber looking to improve your bouldering technique. This course will focus on building a solid foundation for bouldering upon which any climber can further build their skills. Topics in this class include overhanging technique, foot work, route reading and problem solving strategies, injury prevention, bouldering safety, training techniques and more. Two hours of quality instruction per week provided by our climbing school instructors will set you up for success regardless of your climbing experience.
$95/$80 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended. Price includes FULL membership to the gym for the duration of the course.
$95/$80 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended. Price includes FULL membership to the gym for the duration of the course.
Climbing 201 Advance Strategies and Techniques
Can’t seem to break through to the next letter grade? Stuck at 5.9, 5.10, or 5.11? Then Climbing 201 is for you!
This four week course is designed to take you to the next level in your climbing. Meeting for two hours, once a week, for eight hours of instruction total. Learn exciting new techniques for: – Footwork – Efficiency – Overhangs – Body Positioning – Route Climbing Strategies – Visualization.
Prerequisites: Intermediate Class - Climbing 5.9 or higher. Advanced Class - Climbing 5.10c or higher.
$125/$110 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are required. Offered seasonally. Check the calender for the next starting dates.
This four week course is designed to take you to the next level in your climbing. Meeting for two hours, once a week, for eight hours of instruction total. Learn exciting new techniques for: – Footwork – Efficiency – Overhangs – Body Positioning – Route Climbing Strategies – Visualization.
Prerequisites: Intermediate Class - Climbing 5.9 or higher. Advanced Class - Climbing 5.10c or higher.
$125/$110 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are required. Offered seasonally. Check the calender for the next starting dates.
Technical Skills
Anchors I
2 1/2 hours that could save your life! This very thorough hands-on class is an introduction to building top roping anchors on fixed protection (i.e. bolts, etc.). We will also cover principles of equalization along with cliff side safety. Be prepared to take notes! $70/$60 members. Minimum of 3 students, max 6, reservations are required.
Anchors II
2 1/2 hours that could save your life! This very thorough hands-on class is an introduction to placing natural protection and how to build natural belay anchors. Practice setting protection on our custom anchoring wall and testing your work. Packed with information; be prepared to take notes! $70/$60 members. Minimum of 3 students, reservations are required.
Lead Belay Clinic
This free clinic will teach you the basics of Lead Belaying. Lead belaying is a heads up activity that takes just as much skill and attention as lead climbing itself. Whether you are brand new to lead belaying or are an experienced lead climber, this clinic will offer you great skills and instill a safety-first mindset and give you the tools to keep yor leader safe!
This free clinic is offered once monthly. Please visit our calendar to find the next dates.
Reservations are required.
This clinic fulfills the Lead Belay prerequisite for our Lead Class.
This free clinic is offered once monthly. Please visit our calendar to find the next dates.
Reservations are required.
This clinic fulfills the Lead Belay prerequisite for our Lead Class.
Lead Climbing
Upper Level Staff teach this excellent two day (typically weekend) Course. Take your first 'whipper' on Pacific Edge's ropes!
The goal of this class is to teach people to be safe leaders on sport routes. Emphasis is on instilling core lead climbing safety principals and promoting respect for the dangers involved in leading sport climbs, both in the gym and outside. We also periodically offer a Women's Only Lead class.
Prerequisite: Lead Belay Experience, must be able to climb comfortably at a 5.10a level & have been climbing for at least 6 months.
$125/$110 members. Reservations are required.
The goal of this class is to teach people to be safe leaders on sport routes. Emphasis is on instilling core lead climbing safety principals and promoting respect for the dangers involved in leading sport climbs, both in the gym and outside. We also periodically offer a Women's Only Lead class.
Prerequisite: Lead Belay Experience, must be able to climb comfortably at a 5.10a level & have been climbing for at least 6 months.
$125/$110 members. Reservations are required.
Multi-Pitch Climbing
The ideal progression from the Anchors and/or Leading courses. Multi-Pitch climbing is the way to tie together adventure, challenge and commitment. Learn the do's and don'ts of multi-pitch climbing in this two day course.
Topics to be covered include: - Rope management - Swinging leads - Specific dangers - Anchor review - What to do if you drop your belay device - Multi-Pitch Rappelling - and more. Learn the tricks of the trade from Scott Lappin.
$170/$150 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended.
This six hour course is offered Spring and Fall. Check our calendar for upcoming dates or if you have a group of 4-6 students we can schedule a course for you.
Topics to be covered include: - Rope management - Swinging leads - Specific dangers - Anchor review - What to do if you drop your belay device - Multi-Pitch Rappelling - and more. Learn the tricks of the trade from Scott Lappin.
$170/$150 members. Maximum of 6 students, reservations are recommended.
This six hour course is offered Spring and Fall. Check our calendar for upcoming dates or if you have a group of 4-6 students we can schedule a course for you.
Aid Climbing
This course features three sequential classes designed to prepare you for a few days (and nights) on the rock!
Prerequisite: Must lead at least 5.8 on multi-pitch, traditional (natural gear) routes. Attend all three classes for a thorough introduction to aid climbing big walls. Sequence: 1) Aid Climb Leading 2) Aid Climb Cleaning 3) Aid Climb Hauling/Wall Life.
This 8 hour course is offered Spring and Fall. Check our calendar for upcomming dates or if you have a group of 4-6 students we can schedule a course for you.
Prerequisite: Must lead at least 5.8 on multi-pitch, traditional (natural gear) routes. Attend all three classes for a thorough introduction to aid climbing big walls. Sequence: 1) Aid Climb Leading 2) Aid Climb Cleaning 3) Aid Climb Hauling/Wall Life.
This 8 hour course is offered Spring and Fall. Check our calendar for upcomming dates or if you have a group of 4-6 students we can schedule a course for you.
Self Rescue
What if? That is the question. Join camp chef and self proclaimed knot geek, Peter Carrick (A.K.A. Doctorstatic), who will delve into the potential difficulties and risks of climbing more than 1/2 rope length off the ground. The course will develop your tool box when/if you need to deal with some of the common WHAT IFS.
Such as...
I drop my belay device.
I fall under a roof and I'm dangling in space.
My partner is injured and can't rappel on their own.
My rappel rope is stuck.
And many more.
Get ready to get your knot geek on! 8 hours of priceless knots and rope systems is your path to being one of the prepared and competent climbers at the crag.
Maximum of 6 students, reservations are required. $155/$135 members. Please give us a ring to make your reservation now. Don't miss out.
Such as...
I drop my belay device.
I fall under a roof and I'm dangling in space.
My partner is injured and can't rappel on their own.
My rappel rope is stuck.
And many more.
Get ready to get your knot geek on! 8 hours of priceless knots and rope systems is your path to being one of the prepared and competent climbers at the crag.
Maximum of 6 students, reservations are required. $155/$135 members. Please give us a ring to make your reservation now. Don't miss out.
Guided Outdoor ClimbinG
Pinnacles National Park
Make a date to experience the challenges of climbing on the "real thing". Pinnacles is our best local climbing area. It offers sport and traditional climbing on spires and crags of a volcanic nature. October through May is the time of year to enjoy this unique and scenic destination.
Located 90 miles south of Santa Cruz, near Hollister. Pinnacles trips are offered to 3 different areas in the Park, each with its own unique appeal:
All Pinnacles trips require a Pacific Edge belay card or equivalent level of belay training. If you don’t know how to belay, you must take our Basic Safety Class prior to participating in a trip to Pinnacles. Guided trips offered October through May, Sat or Sun. Call for prices.
Located 90 miles south of Santa Cruz, near Hollister. Pinnacles trips are offered to 3 different areas in the Park, each with its own unique appeal:
- Discovery Wall offers the highest concentration of routes in the Pinnacles with a large range of difficulties to choose from. The approach is very short (15 minutes from the car) and the climbs are awesome. Discovery Wall is 150 feet tall and provides primarily 1-pitch routes of high quality. Difficulty ranges from 5.6 to 5.11. Discovery Wall is accessed from the east via Hollister and CA highway 25.
- High Peaks is where Pinnacles got its name. All of the climbs in the High Peaks ascend true summits that can only be reached by technical climbing methods. The climbs and the views are truly spectacular, offering the unique reward of standing on a summit that only a ‘real climber’ can reach. The approach is long; 2 miles with about 1000 feet of elevation gain (about one hour). Difficulty ranges from 5.4 to 5.10. This is a quiet and scenic area of the Park. The High Peaks are accessed from the east via Hollister and CA highway 25. (16 years and older).
- West Side is the wild side of the Pinnacles. The West Side is home to the biggest walls in the Park. Multi-pitch routes on huge walls are the main attraction. Quality single pitch routes are found here as well. Machete Ridge is 600 feet tall. The ‘Old Original Route’ is an all day traverse of the summit ridge (very exposed!) involving easy climbing (5.3) with technical rope handling and multiple rappels. Other routes offer difficulty ranging from 5.6 to 5.11. The approaches are short to moderate, 10 to 40 minutes depending on the route. The West Side is reached from Soledad, off CA highway 101. This is a very scenic and less traveled part of the park.
All Pinnacles trips require a Pacific Edge belay card or equivalent level of belay training. If you don’t know how to belay, you must take our Basic Safety Class prior to participating in a trip to Pinnacles. Guided trips offered October through May, Sat or Sun. Call for prices.
Castle Rock
This is a beautiful woodland area, scattered with sandstone formations, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, our closest natural rock climbing resource. The bouldering is of exceptional quality and there are a number of top-roping cliffs as well. An ideal spot for a guided day of top roping or bouldering. Also available as a group introduction to outdoor rock. Please contact us for cost, group booking & guiding information.