CLIMBING SCHOOL

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.

Explore our Introductory, Climbing Technique, Technical, & Guided Outdoor Courses

Introductory Courses

Please note: If no one is enrolled 2 hours before the start of a class, it will be cancelled for that day. Additionally, due to the curriculum we are unable to accommodate those showing up later than 5 minutes after the start time of a class.

-Basic Safety $38, Free for Members - Every Monday & Thursday 6:30pm-8:30pm, Saturday 1:30pm-3:30pm, and Sunday 10:30am-12:30pm

  • Topics covered in this 2 hour course include: knots, harness, belay skills, climbing and lowering safely on top rope. Day pass, shoes, and a harness rental are also included in the price of this course.

-Next Steps $38, Free for Members - Every Sunday 1:30pm - 3:30pm

  • This 2 hour class is an introduction to primary climbing techniques, proper body positions, footwork and movement. Get started with some good vertical movement by taking the Next Step!

-Free Clinics - Please call to learn more about scheduling

  • Bouldering

  • Crack Climbing

  • Footwork

  • Knots

  • Bolt Safety and Identification

Climbing Technique Courses

-Climbing 101 $175 non members, $110 members - The best introduction to climbing! This course includes six weeks of instruction, 2 hours once a week. Basic Safety and progressive movement techniques are covered in this course. Cost includes FULL membership and equipment for duration of the class.

  • Age 15+

  • Registration for some 101 series occurs through Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation

-Bouldering 101 $95 non members, $80 - This course is great if you are a new boulderer or an experienced climber looking to improve your bouldering technique. It will focus on building a foundation upon which any climber can further build their skills. Topics include overhanging, foot work, route reading, problem solving strategies, injury prevention, bouldering safety, training, and more! Two hours of quality instruction per week provided by our instructors will set you up for success regardless of your climbing experience! Cost includes FULL membership and equipment for duration of the class.

-Climbing 201 Advance Strategies & Technique $125 non members, $110 members - 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.

  • Reservations are required.

  • Offered seasonally

Technical Skills

-Anchors I $70,non members, $60 members - 2.5 hours that could save your life! This very through hands-on class is an introduction to building top rope anchors on fixed protection (i.e. bolts, etc.). We will also cover principled of equalization along with cliff side safety. Be prepared to take notes!

  • Reservations required

-Anchors II $70 non members, $60 members - This 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.

  • Reservations required

-Lead Climbing $125 non members, $110 members - Take your first whipper at Pacific Edge! The goal of this 2 day course 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.

  • Prerequisites: Free Lead Belay Clinic, must comfortably climb 5.10a level, and have been climbing for at least 6 months

-Multi-Pitch Climbing $170 non members, $150 members - 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 include rope management, swinging leads, specific dangers, anchor review, multi-pitch repelling, and more! This 6 hour course is offered in Spring and Fall

-Aid Climbing $155 non members, $135 members - This course features three sequential classes designed to prepare you for a few days (and nights) on the rock! This 8 hour course is offered in Spring and Fall.

  • Prerequisites: 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

-Self Rescue $155 non members, $135 members - What if? That is the question. Join camp chef and self proclaimed knot geek, Peter Carrick (AKA Doctorstatic), who will delve into the potential difficulties and risks of climbing more than ½ 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 dropping your belay device, falling under a roof and dangling in space, injured partner and can’t rappel on their own, rappel rope getting stuck, and more! Course will also cover 8 hours of priceless knots and rope systems!

Guided Outdoor Climbing

-Pinnacles Nation Park Guided Trip call for prices - 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. Trips are offered in three different areas of the park, each with its own appeal:

  • Discovery Wall: Offers the highest concentration of routes with a large range of difficulties to choose from (5.6 to 5.11). The approach is short (15 minutes from the car). Discovery Wall is 150ft tall and provides primarily 1-pitch routes of high quality. It is accessed from the east via Hollister and CA Highway 25

  • High Peaks: is where Pinnacles got its name! All of the climbs ascend true summits that can only be reached by technical climbing methods. The long approach, 2 miles with 1000ft of elevation, rewards you with climbs and views are truly spectacular. Difficulties range from 5.4 to 5.10. This quiet and scenic area of the park can be accessed from the east via Hollister and CA Highway 25. Must be 16 years or older.

  • West Side: is the wild side of the Pinnacles. It is home to the biggest walls in the park. Both single and multi-pitch routes on huge walls are the main attraction. Difficulties range from a 5.3 traverse to a 5.11. The approaches are short to moderate (11 to 40 minutes depending on the route). The West Side is reached from Soledad, off CA Highway 101.

All Pinnacles trips require a Pacific Edge belay certification. If you do not know how to belay, you must take our Basic Safety Class prior to participating. Guided trips are offered October through May, Sat or Sun.

- Castle Rock Guided Trip call for prices - This is a beautiful woodland area, scattered with sandstone formations, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s also out closest natural rock for climbing resource! Castle Rock is 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.