Anchors and Rappelling 101: Women’s Climbing Clinic in Anchorage

What We’ll Learn:

Join us for this 1-day climbing clinic for women (cis, trans), led by the amazing women guides at Into the Woods Alaska, where you'll learn foundational anchor building and rappelling skills.

Elevate your climbing skills with our comprehensive 1-day clinic focused on anchor building and rappelling techniques. Join us at the crag to learn the fundamentals of both sport and natural anchor construction, alongside basic rappelling methods.

Utilizing anchor boards, we'll guide you through the process of building and cleaning anchors on the ground. Time permitting, each participant will have the opportunity to practice cleaning anchors and rappelling under the attentive supervision of our instructor-guides.

During the clinic, you'll master building top-rope anchors using a static rope to equalize boulders, bolts, and trees. Additionally, you'll learn essential safety techniques near cliff edges and how to safely rappel down the top-ropes you create.

Our course emphasizes core climbing principles, including anchor construction, rope systems, and risk management. Through hands-on exercises and peer-led sessions, participants will develop the ability to identify and mitigate climbing hazards effectively.

To support your learning, you'll receive a comprehensive handbook to refer to during and after the clinic, ensuring you retain essential skills long after the course concludes.

Payment Information

→ all of our climbing clinics and trips have the same set price per day. → 1-day clinics: $300 per participant → 2-day clinics: $595 per participant → 3-day clinics/overnight retreats: $875 per participant → 25% non-refundable deposit required at time of booking, if the date of the clinic is more than 31 days out. Pay in full within 31 days of the start date.

Due to the nature of operating a well-planned, and carefully curated program, we have a very strict cancellation policy. Please review it before committing to this clinic.

Clinic Details:

→ Max Ratio - 4:1 (Climber:Guide) → Capacity - 4 → Minimum enrollment: 3 → Climber Requirements: Safe top-rope belaying knowledge and skills. Ability to tie your figure eight follow-through. → Level: Intro/Level 1

Clinic Dates:

please see the calendar for summer 2024 clinic dates.

Location:

Start/End: 1343 G St., Suite 104. Anchorage, AK 99501 We will transport to and from our HQ (the blue building on G st. and 14th ave.).

Clinic Location: Boy Scout Rocks, McHugh Creek

What’s Included:

→ All hard and soft goods for climbing and building anchors, NOT including your own personal climbing harness and helmet. → Climbing Permits → The Guide Fee → Transportation to and from the Crag → Lunch, Snacks, Hot Beverage → Clinic Handbook

What’s Not Included:

→ Gratuities to the guide → Travel Insurance → Your personal climbing gear (harness and helmet)

What to Pack:

This course is 100% outdoors! It is imperative to dress for the weather and understand that Alaska summers may be chilly when rainy and/or in an alpine environment. → UIAA rated climbing harness and helmet → 2-3 liters of water → Pack a hearty lunch and snacks for yourself, in addition to what we offer, you may need it! → Your ITWAK Guide will send out gear lists and more detailed itineraries after registration is confirmed.

General Itinerary:

We will email out the detailed itineraries and participant handbook once registration is complete. The following is a rough itinerary. → 8am: meet at our HQ at 1343 G St., Ste. 104, Anchorage, AK 99501. We get an early start to make most of our day! We will briefly review the trip plan for the day, load into the van and head out! → 9am: arrive at trailhead. Most of our anchors and rappelling clinics will take place at Boy Scout Rocks at McHugh Creek. **If you choose to drive your own vehicle, you will need to pay the $5 Alaska State Park parking fee. → 9am to 5:30pm: Clinic at Boy Scout Rocks– lunch, snacks, and breaks as needed. You'll begin by learning anchor building and cleaning techniques in a controlled setting using anchor boards and natural features like trees and boulders. After mastering these skills, you'll move on to practicing rappelling on a steeper slope. Finally, we'll ascend to the top of the crag to apply what you've learned by building an anchor and rappelling off of it.

Please note that lesson plans and itineraries may change at the discretion of the guides to accommodate group needs and factors beyond our control, such as environmental conditions. Safety is always our top priority.

Who is this for?

This is a Women’s (cis, trans) climbing clinic for ages 18+. If you're attending solo, don't worry—many participants come alone, seeking to connect with fellow women climbers.

This clinic is designed for those who want to learn, have fun, and meet new climbing partners. Your experience depends on your attitude and physical abilities.

Tailored for climbers of varying skills and fitness levels, this class focuses on knot application, anchor building, and rappelling techniques, rather than climbing movement or doing top-rope laps. It's suitable for beginners, requiring only basic belaying and figure eight follow-through knot-tying skills, though overall physical fitness enhances the experience.

Please review the difficulty description below to ensure it aligns with your expectations.

This experience is not ideal for: -people with medical conditions of cardiac or neurogenic nature; -people with joint issues, like previous knee or hip injuries, surgeries, and replacements; -women in any stage of pregnancy who have been advised by their doctor to not undertake strenuous physical activity; -individuals with vertigo, extreme fear of heights, history of narcolepsy, panic attacks

Difficulty description:

Each person has their own comfort level with risk and physical capabilities. The trail to Boy Scout Rocks is typically rated as easy to moderate, though it's an uneven, single-track path with exposed roots and occasional slippery sections.

Everyone in the group will carry their own gear to the crag, including lunch and water, in addition to helping carry the shared hard and soft goods. Expect to carry a backpacking backpack up to 35 pounds/16 kilos.

During most of the day, we'll be stationed at our anchor boards, practicing anchor building and rappelling. Alternatively, we'll be at the top of the crag, engaged in the same activities. While at the bottom, we'll have some protection from the wind, but expect windier conditions at the top of the crag.

Consider the following risks that may arise during our expedition:

• Be prepared for steep inclines, declines, and sheer drop-offs, as well as loose rocks.
• Expect to navigate areas with smaller boulders and rocks, potentially requiring scrambling.
• Trails might be obscured by natural barriers like vegetation or washed out due to weather.
• Some routes may require bushwhacking away from main trails.
• Trails could be wet, icy, or muddy depending on the season.

Conditions to anticipate include:

• Trails vary from smooth to rocky and uneven with roots.
• Weather changes from sunny to windy, rainy, or snowy.
• Steep trails with loose gravel or mud.
• Some areas may have unmaintained or overgrown trails.
• Climbing routes might feature loose, wet, vertical, slab, or overhung rock.
• Climbing conditions may include wind or rain.

Please note, we reserve the right to cancel or adjust the trip if we deem conditions too risky for the group's safety.

Participant Need-to-Read prior to Booking:

The Physical, Emotional, and Mental load of Field Courses Regardless of the level of the course, all wilderness multi-day trips with ITWAK are remote experiences which can be potentially days away from definitive medical care. Participants in ITWAK expeditions sleep outdoors, share tents with 1-4 others, prepare their own meals, and face varying weather conditions. Each student must take responsibility for themselves.

Students should expect physically and/or emotionally challenging days, with backpacking courses involving carrying loads up to 30% of their body weight, sometimes more for climbing and mountaineering, or winter courses, over rugged terrain.

ITWAK is not a wilderness therapy or rehabilitation program and is not suitable for addressing substance use nor for treating behavioral and psychological conditions. Prior physical and mental conditioning and a positive mindset are essential for the demanding experience of a wilderness field course. Our courses and trips are not suitable for participants who have struggled to maintain stability in normal daily activities like work or school due to psychological and/or behavioral health conditions within the last year, or have been in a residential treatment facility within the last 2 years.

Do NOT Bring - Prohibited on all of our tours, trips, and courses: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, e-cigarettes or vaping-type products, firearms or weapons of any kind.