New River Mountain Guides offers year round rock climbing instruction for all climbing abilities, whether
you've never climbed before, or you are a competent lead climber
looking to expand on your techniques. We also offer Women's Climbing Courses of
all of the following courses taught by female guides. Just let us know your preference at
time of booking.
All of our courses listed below are private guided sessions, meaning you won't be grouped in with other individuals. We feel this provides you with an educational experience that is tailored to your ability level. This allows us to move through the curriculm at a pace that is comfortable to you and compatible with your learning curve, without being hindered or rushed along by others.
Experience
has taught us that the rate at which students acquire climbing
skills varies greatly. In response we've implemented a skill intensive
course progression, the goal of which is to promote continual rock climbing skill
development as well as reinforcement of fundamentals. The core courses
comprising this progression are:
Climbing 101—Basic Rock Skills 1 Climbing 201—Basic Rock Skills 2 Climbing 301—Lead Climbing Trad/Sport Climbing 302—Anchor Seminar Climbing 401—Self-Rescue Climbing 402—Multi-Pitch Climbing Climbing 403—Big Wall/Aid Climbing Systems Climbing 501—Private Guiding
All of these courses are taught at the New River Gorge unless otherwise arranged.
Pricing
Half Day- Suitable for first-timers who want to check
out climbing in a safe and responsible manner. No experience necessary,
great for families, corporate retreats, youth groups etc. 1 Person: $125 Group Rates Available, please call One Full Day 1 Person: $249/person Group Rates Available, please call Two Full Days 1 Person: $425/person Group Rates Available, please call Deposits & Refunds: To book a course we take a
$50 non-refundable deposit payable with either a Visa or Mastercard.
You can transfer your deposit to another date within the next 6 months
from original trip date if necessary.
There will be no refunds once a course has started, even in the event
of bad weather. We will do our best to work with you to reschedule.
Other Rules: For your safety and that of your party NO Spectators will be allowed to accompany climbing trips. Thank you for your understanding.
Climbing 101--Basic Rock Skills 1 This one-day course is tailored for those who wish to begin to seriously pursue climbing. We'll concentrate on the theory as well as the practical components of climbing.
Pre-Requisite: If you have had a little to no climbing experience, or just need a refresher, this is the course for you. You’ll learn:
* ClimbingTechnique & Movement * Climbing Knots & Rope Handling * Belaying & Rappelling * Rock Climbing Equipment & Use * Terminology & Communication * Leave No Trace Principles * Lots of Rock Climbing
Climbing 201--Basic Rock Skills 2 This one-day course is a continuation of Climbing 101 and builds upon it's foundation, while introducing more advanced skills. This course is a pre-requiste for our lead climbing courses.
Pre-Requisite: Completion of Climbing 101, and you must be able to top-rope 5.6 without falling. You’ll learn: * Advanced ClimbingTechnique & Movement * Climbing Knots & Rope Handling * Lead Belaying * Cleaning/Following a Trad Leader * Building Top Rope Anchors w/ Natural & Artificial Gear * Terminology & Communication * Leave No Trace Principles * Lots of Rock Climbing
Climbing 301—Lead Climbing Sport This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of lead climbing sport routes through lots of "mock leading" (lead climbing with a loose top-rope back up). Learning to lead is the most challenging step of your climbing career. Our lead climbing course gives you the opportunity to prepare yourself to meet the challenge responsibly.
Pre-Requisite: Individuals who have either completed Climbing 201 and can top-rope 5.7 without falling. You’ll learn:
* Route Finding & Reading a Route * The Art of Clipping * Risk Assessment & Managing Fear * Creative Visualization Techniques * Falling—the proper way to fall, expanding your comfort zone * Efficient Movement—conserving energy and resting * Advanced Movement & Technique * Leave No Trace Principles * Lots of Mock Leading Climbing 301—Lead Climbing Trad Traditional climbing or crack climbing is one of the most gear intensive forms of climbing which requires extensive problem solving skills and critical planning. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of lead climbing trad routes through lots of "mock leading" (lead climbing with a top-rope back up). Mock leading, placing gear on the safety of top-rope, will allow you to focus on placing your gear in a safe and responsible way.
Pre-Requisite: Individuals who have either completed Climbing 201 and can top-rope 5.7 without falling. You’ll learn:
* Differing types of traditional climbing gear * Gear Placements-the good the bad and the ugly * Anchor Building-using natural and artificial gear * Rope Handling Skills—minimizing rope drag * Racking Up—different methods for organizing your gear efficiently * Jamming Techniques * Leave No Trace Principles * Lots of Crack Climbing Climbing 303—Anchors The focus of this one-day course is learning how to build bomber anchors. You'll learn how to build them with natural pro and fixed pro. Practice makes perfect, so you'll get lots of hands-on experience.
* SERENE: Solid, Equalized, Redundant, No Extensions * Gear Placements—recognize the good, the bad and the ugly * Natural vs Artificial Anchors * Using Slings & Cordelettes * Leave No Trace Principles
Climbing 401-Self Rescue Don't know what to do if you get stuck in a jam? This clinic will give you the basic skills necessary to get you out of sticky situations. In this two-day course you'll learn:
* Prevention * Knots & Rope Handling * How to Escape the Belay * Pick-Offs * Ascending the Rope * Load Transfers * Pulley Systems * Rappelling with an injured climber Climbing 402-Multi-Pitch Climbing -at Seneca Rocks This course is held at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia in partnership with Seneca Rocks Climbing School. You'll learn the ins and outs of multi-pitch climbing and you'll be a competent second in a multi-pitch envirionment, develop new skills and strengthen those you already have:
* Following a lead climber * Rope Management * Belay Station Management * Rappelling * Basic Anchors
Climbing 403--Aid Climbing/Big Wall-subject to guide availability During this 2-day rock climbing course you'll safely learn: more involved gear
placement using aid gear, ascending fixed ropes, knots, hauling
systems, and how to set up a portaledge. An optional bivy on the
portaledge is available. This course requires the knowledge of lead
climbing. * How to pick an Aid Route * Organizing your rock climbing gear for the aid climb * How to organize your haul bag * Lead Climbing with hooking & nailing (where possible) * Clean Aid Climbing Techniques * Testing Gear & Committing * Cleaning & Jumaring Aid Climbs * Anchors & Hauling Systems * Setting up a Port-a-Ledge
1 person - $600 2 people - $500/person
Private Guiding Looking for something a bit more tailored to your needs? Have a specific area you like to brush up on? A route you’d love to project? A place you’d like to travel to? This is the way to go. We’ll tailor your guiding experience to help you meet your goals. Groups Find out why the United States Coast Guard sends their teams to NRMG for training. We can tailor trips to suit the needs of boy scouts, church groups, youth groups, and employees/employers of a business and/or corporations.
We can help arrange a wide variety of activities that include rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, hiking, and more. Please call us and we’ll help put together a package that will exceed your expectations. Refund Policy A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to book any of our courses. Please give us a call and talk with our course manager to make a reservation, place a deposit, and to check on course availability.
If we cancel a course, every effort will be made to reschedule. If rescheduling isn't possible you may apply the deposit to another course at another time within the next 6 months.
There will be no refunds once a course is half over, even in the event of bad weather. We will do our best to work with you.
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