Metrorock Climbing School

Thank you for visiting MetroRock Climbing School (MCS), your source for outdoor guiding and climbing instruction.

Courses and outings are offered for all levels of experience and interest on real rock at some of the region’s finest crags. All courses and events may be booked privately or in small groups at any time. Private courses are tailored to you and your group’s specific interests and abilities. Some courses are also offered for open enrollment throughout the season, approximately April through November.

Calendar of Events

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Top Rope Manager

A full day course designed to teach the fundamental concepts of building and managing top rope anchor systems. Participants will learn to build safe, pleasant to use top rope systems utilizing fixed protection, and natural features.

Learning Outcomes:

Confidence tying the bowline knot, clove hitch, assorted bight knots
Basic anchor principles
Bolted anchor Setups
V-Rig anchors
Monolith anchors
Identifying suitable anchor points
Considerations for a pleasant climbing and belaying experience

Pre-requisites

Top rope belay certified
Outdoor top rope climbing experience recommended

Gym to Crag

A half-day program designed to introduce gym climbers to outdoor climbing. In this course you will learn the differences between indoor and outdoor climbing, and how to safely and confidently take your climbing outdoors.

Learning Outcomes:

Outdoor Belay Skills
Communication skills at the crag
Basic outdoor climbing technique
“Leave No Trace” and concepts of outdoor climbing courtesy
Intro to advanced climbing techniques, such as crack climbing

Pre-Requisites:

Prior climbing experience
Belay Certification

Crag Day

Enjoy a full day of top rope climbing at any one of the area’s stellar crags. Get to know one of your local gems with an experienced guide, experience rock climbing outdoors for the first time, or challenge yourself with a new experience. Outcomes and objectives for the day will be appropriate for the group present. Private groups may request an objective and priorities for the day. Open enrollment days will be tailored to best accommodate the climbing experience for the entirety of the group present.

Learning Outcomes:

Climb routes that delight and challenge you!
Learn a new crag
Build foundational climbing skills
“Leave No Trace” and concepts of outdoor climbing courtesy

Pre-Requisites:

Prior climbing experience is a plus
Excitement to climb!

Sport Climber

A full day class designed to teach indoor lead climbers everything they need to know about sport climbing outdoors. Gain the skills to confidently transition to outdoor sport climbing. Hanging draws, setting up and cleaning anchors, and navigating the additional hazards of climbing outside.

Learning Outcomes:

Confidence Identifying and using fixed anchors and hardware
How to equip a sport climb
How to clean a sport climb
Risk analysis and mitigation while climbing outside
Tips and tricks to improve your day at the crag

Pre-requisites:

Lead belay certification
Outdoor top rope or bouldering experience recommended

Cost

1 Participant $250

2 Participants $175

3 Participants $125

4+ Participants. $100

Open Enrollment $95

Cost

1 Participant $250

2 Participants $200

3 Participants $150

4+ Participants. $125

Open Enrollment $100

Cost

1 Participant $300

2 Participants $200

3 Participants $150

4+ Participants. $140

Open Enrollment $130

Cost

1 Participant $325

2 Participants $225

3 + Participants $175

Open Enrollment $150

Crack Climbing

Looking for a new climbing challenge? Ever dream of climbing through an endless sea of granite on one of North America’s famous big walls, or jamming perfect splitter cracks in the desert southwest? Check out our full day crack climbing clinic to develop the foundational crack climbing skills you’ll need to start that journey. This course is offered on the historic crack climbs of Pawtuckaway State Park!

Learning Outcomes:

Hand, finger, and fist jamming techniques
Toe jams
Footwork tips and technique
Taping up

Pre-requisites:

Belay Certification or significant rope climbing experience

Self Rescue

A full day class designed to teach you basic rescue skills and techniques to protect both yourself and your partners. This course will introduce you to ascending, hauling, and load-transfer techniques—vitally important skills for a passionate outdoor rock climber. This course is taught in a single pitch setting.

Learning Outcomes:

Ascending with a friction hitch
Load transfer and belay takeovers
Assisted 2 - 1, and 3 - 1 hauling systems
Lowering and assisting an injured climber

Pre-requisites:

Belay certification
Top Rope Manager, Sport Climber, or similar significant outdoor climbing experience

Private Guided Trips

Have a specific destination or objective in mind, but just need someone to help you achieve your goal? We’re here to help you get there! Whether you want to crush a local project or step outside your comfort zone for a bigger or more advanced objective, we can guide you every step! Need to learn some new skills, or dust off some old ones for an upcoming trip? We can help with that too!