ClassesOur climbing classes are in-depth, hands-on, and have low student-to-guide ratios. Expect safety, professionalism, and expert instruction in every class.
Climbing Classes
Click on a Class to learn more
Gym to Crag
Transitioning from the gym to outside climbing is challenging. Our expert guides will teach you the fundamental skills of outdoor climbing. Improve your movement techniques, belaying, rappelling, and knot tying skills.
To book a class contact erik@californiaclimbingschool.com (760) 625-7115
Duration
6 Hours
Dates
January 7, 14, 21, 28
February 5, 11, 18
March 4, 18, 26
April 1, 15, 23
Cost
$165 per student
Includes free rental of shoes, harness and helmet
Details
The perfect class for gym climbers who want to learn how to climb outside. Learn outdoor climbing techniques such as smearing, laybacking, stemming, and jamming.
Adapt your belaying to the different hazards outdoor belayers deal with. Hazards like rockfall, getting pulled across a gully and slammed into the wall by a heavier climber, and running out of rope when you lower the climber off a tall climb!
Get live coaching on your movement technique by a certified guide who understands the subtleties of outdoor climbing at Joshua Tree.
Learn how to rappel under the supervision of a certified guide. Learn how to coil a rope at the end of the day and how to flake it at the beginning.
Relax, knowing your guide will keep you safe, have fun, and help you progress to a self-sufficient outdoor climber!
Kids & Teen Classes
Kids Classes (age 5 – 11)
Teen Classes (age 12-17)
3 hour class at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park.
Meets most Fridays 1:00-4:00pm $65 per session
NEW this Season – Select Sundays $75 per session
2023 Schedule
Sundays 8:30 – 11:30 am
January 15th, 29th
February 12th, 26th
March 12th
Fridays 1pm – 4pm
January 13th, 20th, 27th
February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
April 7th
Contact Tee to sign your kids up for Kids & Teen Classes
teecaliforniaclimbingschool@gmail.com
Anchors 1 & 2
Anchors 1: essential trad climbing skills – pro placement and equalization. We recommend taking this class before Lead Climbing.
Anchors 2: great prep for SPI, Scout leaders, and guides-in-training. “Institutional” top rope anchors using a static rope.
Duration
Anchors 1 – 8 hours Anchors 2 – 8 hours
To book a class contact erik@californiaclimbingschool.com (760) 625-7115
Anchors 1 $165
Jan 2, 7, 14, 22, 28
Feb 4, 12, 18, 25
Mar 4, 18, 25
Apr 1, 9, 15, 23
Anchors 2 $165
Jan 8
Feb 26
Mar 12
Apr 2
Anchors 1 or equivalent is a pre-requisite for our lead climbing class.
Details
dMany anchor building classes are only a few hours long and raise more questions than they answer. This class is 8 hours, and includes plenty of hands-on time to practice the techniques shown. Our second session will cover extension anchors and advanced rappel methods.
Learn how to build top rope anchors using “trad” gear such as cams, nuts, hexes and tri-cams. We will also teach you how to build “sport” anchors using two or three bolts, as well as natural anchors built from trees or boulders.
We will evaluate every piece in the anchor and how they could be even better. Learn an objective method to assess the overall strength and security of your anchors. Special attention will be given to assessing the rock quality so that you never build an anchor in weak rock.
We will cover the common mistakes that climbers make in anchor building and address how to avoid these errors. Common errors include poor rock quality, poorly fitting protection, lack of redundancy, and inadequate equalization.
First, you will learn how to equalize two pieces, then three, four or five pieces. Materials used to equalize anchors include slings/runners, quickdraws, and cordelettes.
Building upon the foundation of Session 1, we will learn how to build extended top rope anchors using protection that is over 10 feet away from the edge. You will practice the “Joshua Tree method” using a 40-70 foot static rope.
Knots covered will include the BHK, 2 loop eight aka bunny ears, clove hitch, prussik hitch, auto block, figure 8 on a bight, and figure 8 bend.
Refine your pro placement skills by having an expert eye critique your placements. We will focus on cams and nuts.
Increase your safety while rappelling by using backups and extensions. Learn how to rappel safely off your extended toprope setup using an ATC and a Gri-gri.
Lead Climbing
Dates
2023
Jan 3, 8, 15, 29
Feb 5, 19, 25
Mar 5, 11, 19, 25
Apr 2, 8, 16, 29
Cost
$165 per student
Max 3 students to 1 guide ratio
Details
You will lead a trad pitch while being belayed on toprope. Your guide will climb along side you on a different rope and provide detailed coaching as you climb. Learn how to use various devices to belay from the top. Practice lowering the climber back down from the top using a Gri gri, ATC, or munter hitch. Best practices for managing your rope. When to lower and when to rappel. How to set up a rappel, and avoid having your rope get stuck. Best practices using a backup when you rappel.
Learn about the dreaded “zipper effect” and how to avoid it. Master the art of correctly and effortlessly clipping the rope to a quickdraw. Compare different racking methods and the pros and cons of each method. When should you place a cam? When should you place a nut? Are Tri-cams useful? Are hexes obsolete? Direct belays, indirect belays, and redirected belays-your guide will help you learn which technique is best for what situation.
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Practice setting your anchors to withstand multiple directions of pull, and discuss when this is necessary. Learn how to give a great lead belay with a GriGri or a plate style device like an ATC. Learn how to belay from above with several different methods: direct, indirect, and re-directed. Practice belaying the follower with a GriGri, ATC guide, Reverso, or munter hitch. Discuss the pros and cons of the various techniques to belay the second.
Rappel with increased confidence by practicing extended rappels backed up with a friction hitch as a third hand. Practice leashing in with a variety of tools, such as a sling, a cordelette, or a PAS. Learn how to transition from climb to rappel and avoid common errors like rappelling off the ends of the rope.
Many lead climbing accidents happen because of a mistake made in the belay chain. We discuss the most common types of accidents and how they could be prevented. Rappel/lower off the end of the rope, failure to set up a proper belay/rappel, belayer distraction, etc.
We will discuss the importance of route finding and how to look for subtle clues to keep you on route.
Have you ever noticed your rope often behaves like a two-year old? Always causing trouble when you don’t pay enough attention to it? We will discuss and practice ways to get your rope to work for you instead of against you. Your rope can get especially cranky at transitions like belay changeovers and going from climb to rappel. We will look at ways to smooth out these transitions so you can get down off the climb before it gets dark!
Multi Pitch Climbing
Learn efficient rope management techniques to climb and descend long routes and avoid having to spend a cold unplanned night on the wall!
Duration
8 Hours
Dates
2023
Jan 4, 16
Feb 11, 18
Mar 12, 26
Apr 8, 16, 29
Cost
$225 per student
Max 3 students to 1 guide ratio
Details
Pre-requisite: Lead Climbing Class or equivalent.
Improve your multipitch efficiency with better rope management. Many teams waste time at the belay stations on the climb and on the descent.
Practice swapping leads vs block leading and when to use each technique. Learn how to manage the rope at a hanging belay station when there is no stance for your feet.
A focus on risk assessment will help you assess the hazards of high-off-the-deck climbing. Learn how to assess whether a climb is within your teams capability.
Multipitch rappelling presents unique challenges, especially when two ropes are needed on longer rappels. Learn how to avoid rope snags so your rope always comes down when you retrieve it.
Crack Climbing
Have you ever tried crack climbing and found it awkward, difficult, or painful? We will show you how to use crack climbing techniques for efficient, comfortable movement in this mysterious form of climbing.
contact erik@californialclimbingschool.com (760) 625-7115
Duration
8 Hour Sessions
Dates
Please let us know what date is best for you.
Cost
$380 private lesson
$225 each for 2 climbers
Details
In this crack climbing clinic you will learn: hand jams, fist jams, finger locks, ring locks, cupped hands, hand/fist stacks, foot jams, foot stacks, toe jams, heel-toe jams, arm bars, chicken wings, knee bars, and more! These techniques are so important because they allow you to climb using less energy, and therefore you will climb harder and get less pumped!
Practice crack climbing in a range of crack sizes from fingers to hands, to off-widths and chimneys. The focus will be on climbs in the 5.4 to 5.9 range, which sounds easy, but these climbs have stiff ratings. A minimum standard of climbing fitness for this clinic is required (5.10c in the gym or 5.10b outdoor sport climbing) due to the challenging nature of these climbs.
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Many sport and gym climbers have failed at crack climbing due to poor technique. A 5.9 crack can sometimes feel impossible to a 5.11 climber! Often times the rating is blamed, when in fact it is a matter of good technique, not brute strength or power!
We will show you how to make perfect tape gloves for better comfort while crack climbing. Compare the pros and cons of using tape gloves vs rubber gloves such as the Ocun or Outdoor Research Splitter.
Erik Kramer-Webb has been crack climbing since 1987, and it is his favorite style of climbing. Some of his most noteworthy crack climbs include Epinephrine, Whodunit, The Rostrum, The Good Book, Astroman, and Godzilla.
One problem people have when crack climbing is laybacking too much. Erik will show you how to jam your hands and feet for efficient movement. Laybacking is inefficient because it drains your arm strength quickly. Jamming is far easier. Above all, it will enable you to stand on your feet, resulting in less effort to climb the crack.
You will learn how to quickly recognize which technique is best suited for the situation. Discuss how to match a cam size to the size of the crack when leading trad climbs.
4th Class Rock aka “Alpine Rock”
Are you a peak bagger who wants to up their game? Are you a technical climber looking for a faster way to use your rope on broken, blocky, alpine rock? These skills will help you send longer alpine rock routes and increase your safety margin at the same time. Speed is safety in the mountains, and this class is all about speed.
Duration
8 Hours
Dates
2022
Dec 17, 27
2023
Jan 2, 7, 22
Feb 12, 26
Mar 12, 26
Apr 8, 23
Cost
$165
Details
Climbing skills covered include hip belays, terrain belays, ridge traversing, and short pitching. Descending skills covered: lowering, rappelling, and short pitching. The emphasis is on using terrain features instead of protection.
Speed is safety in the mountains. Many talented climbers have failed on long, easy routes in the alpine because they used 5th class techniques on 3rd and 4th class terrain. In other words, they pitched it out with standard belay techniques that work great on 5.7 but not well on ledgy, low-angled climbing with plenty of loose rock.
Oftentimes the rope itself is the culprit, sending loose rock down the slope and causing havoc.
Learn how to tie in closer to your partner to keep your rope from dislodging rocks.
This class is focused on rock and does not cover snow or ice. The emphasis is on techniques for a team of 2 climbers. Teams of 3 or 4 are more complex and go beyond the scope of this class.
Pre-requisite skills for this class: You are a good belayer, you have some experience rappelling, and you trust the rope. In other words, you can climb to the top and lean back and trust the rope to go down. You also need to know the figure 8 follow-through, the safety check, and the verbal commands.
Aid Climbing
Duration
8 Hour Sessions
Dates
By appointment only
Cost
$395 For 1 Student Private
$250 per student 2 Session
Details
You will practice these techniques:
- Aid climbing
- Using mechanical rope ascenders,
- Cleaning the pitches and organizing the belay stations,
- Hauling the bag,
- Lowering out the haul bag,
- Rappelling with the haul bag.
Learn a variety of ways to clean traverses including lower outs, passing the top jumar, and aid-cleaning.
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Cleaning aid pitches requires rope savviness. Jugging is an unnatural body motion that requires practice in order to go fast and still not get tired. Your guide will show how you can adjust your jugging technique based on the steepness of the wall in order to maximize your efficiency.
You will practice 4 methods of cleaning traverses in the aid climbing class: passing the top jumar, lowering out with 4 strands, lowering out with 2 strands, and aid-cleaning. When cleaning an aid pitch, the more it traverses or overhangs, the more complex it becomes. We will not have time to cover all 4 techniques on the first day.
You will practice hauling the bag in the aid climbing class using at least 2 methods. First we will use a wall hauler or mini-traxion type device. The other method to learn in case you drop your primary hauling tool is using your ascenders and a simple pulley to haul the bag.
Releasing the haul bag can create problems. We will look at how to lower out the haul bag so it never goes SPLAT against a side wall in a pendulum swing, bursting all your water bottles! The haul bag gets stuck a lot, so we will show how the second can free the bag.
Rappelling with the haul bag is another skill you will practice in the aid climbing class. Don’t do it like I did it the first time and wear the bag like a backpack–it pulled me backwards slowly until I was upside down when I landed!
Erik Kramer-Webb has climbed El Capitan 5 times including one-day ascents of the Nose and Lurking Fear.
Rescue 1 & 2
Duration
Rescue 1 – 8 hours
Rescue 2 – 8 hours
Dates Rescue 1
Dec 11 Jan 4, 21 Feb 19 Mar 5 Apr 9
Dates Rescue 2
Jan 5, 22 Feb 4 Mar 19 Apr 30
Cost
$165 per student
Max 4 students to 1 guide ratio
Rescue Details
Session 1 Details
Learn the basics of self rescue including: escaping the belay, fixed rope ascension, raising systems, lowering systems, tandem rappelling, and “picking off'” a fallen or stuck climber. Belay devices used: atc guide (or equivalent), gri-gri, and munter hitch. Knots used: munter-mule-overhand, prussik, klemheist, autoblock, clove hitch, and figure 8 on a bight.
Session 2 Details
Learn counterbalance rappelling, picking off the follower, improvised chest harness, rappelling with an injured climber, passing the knot, and alternative rope ascension methods. Discussion of more advanced topics such as leader pick-offs, rope soloing and aid climbing.
ADAPTIVE TRAINING FOR ABLE-BODIED GUIDES AND CLIMBERS
Duration
1-2 Days
Dates
April 1-2 2023 Joshua Tree National Park
8am-1pm Saturday April 1st and 8am-1pm on Sunday April 2nd.
Cost
10 Hours $350
Details
Description:
Guides who are certified Single Pitch Instructor or Single Pitch Guide can begin the process towards a Single Pitch Instructor Adaptive certification. Two more training weekends will be required to become SPIA certified.
Recreational climbers can become a coach/assistants at future adaptive climbing events by taking this course. Must have experience following trade and be able to climb 5.8 on real rock.
Para-lead aid climbing pioneer Rand Abbott will share his ground-breaking techniques to help adaptive athletes succeed in the vertical environment.
The focus will be on how to work with adaptive athletes who have a movement deficiency due to spinal cord injury and/or limb deficiency.
How to assess an athlete’s disability and choose appropriate climbing methods for them. How to address an adaptive climber’s concerns before they get up on the wall so they are prepared and in a positive mindset.
How to use a chest harness and drag pants for adaptive athletes.
How to lower adaptive athletes safely down a wall using tag lines.
How to prevent skin injuries and circulation problems arising from the harness and use of prosthetics.
How to address weight distribution concerns when there is a change to the body mass index due to weight loss or limb deficiencies.
Rope ascension with mechanical ascenders or T-bar ascenders. Arms only ascension. 1 to 1 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 system will be used.
Guides will learn how to rig anchors, top ropes, and fixed lines for the climber, the coach, and the guide using a rigging plate and static ropes.
Adaptive Climbing
Duration
1-2 Days
Dates
November 11-13, 2022
Sign up now. Space is limited.
Cost
Early Bird (before September 1st) $450 includes 2 days of guided climbing and 2 nights camping
Standard (after September 1st) $500
Details
Description:
This is an adaptive climbing clinic, where we will honor your disability, then switch the focus to your individual abilities and how we can apply them to your climbing. Prior to the clinic you will be teamed up with a climbing coach (an experienced climber). Your coach will discuss your present climbing experience and your goals (where do you see yourself as a climber one year from now). They will also discuss what climbing techniques you know and do not know.
Para-climber Rand Abbott will share various techniques he has developed for roped climbing. Each participant will have a guide plus a coach to facilitate their climbs. We are planning for 8 participants, 4 guides, and 8 coaches. Group camping is available at Indian Cove Campground Friday and Saturday night. Meals are not provided. Camping not required. Feel free to book lodging in town if you prefer. If you need help setting up your campsite please let us know and we will provide a helper.
Schedule:
Friday 2:00 – 6:00pm – move into the group campsite and set up your camp.
6:00pm – orientation meeting at Indian Cove Campground
Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm climbing, with a 2 hour break in the middle of the day
Sunday 8:00am – 4:00pm climbing, with a 2 hour break in the middle of the day
Meet Our Guest Presenter
Rand Abbott
My name is Rand Abbott. I am an adaptive climber. In 2008 I suffered an injury to my spinal cord resulting in the loss of use of my legs. Prior to my injury I was a climber. After my injury I wanted to continue to climb, and in 2013 I started climbing as an adaptive athlete and adaptive climber. After a year of adaptive climbing jugging lines, I tried to get back to lead climbing as an adaptive climber. In 2014 I came out to Joshua tree CA and did my first adaptive aid lead climb on a 5.10 trad climb in the park. To date, I have first ascents on many 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, A2, A3, and a couple of A4. being a pioneer in adaptive climbing, specifically adaptive aid lead climbing I enjoy working with other adaptive athletes/adaptive climbers helping them expand their climbing experience.
Groups
Joshua Tree is the perfect place for group climbing. Climbs of varying difficulty level can often be found in the same area to allow for groups to climb together easily. We have provided our services in the past to scout groups, school groups, faith groups, military units, corporate teams, and therapy groups.
We have experience assisting disabled climbers. Please call us and we can make a plan for disabled climbers to challenge themselves in the way that best suits them.
Joshua Tree is an ideal location for group climbing due to the easy access to the climbs and climbing for all ability levels.
Pricing
Please contact us to request a quote for your group climbing plans.
Specific to group size and goals.