Intro to Outdoor Climbing (Top Roping and Rappelling) - Coopers

Climb and rappel outdoors on real rocks!

This introductory climbing trip will get you outside and in touch with the roots of the sport - climbing real rock in beautiful settings! Our highly experienced and certified climbing guides will curate an amazing outdoor climbing experience with a small group of eager climbers. This trip is recommended for anyone interested in learning the basics of outdoor roped climbing and rappelling*. Join us for an exciting and memorable climbing experience!

* Being able to climb 5.6 comfortably in the gym is a good baseline for this trip. Ages 16 and up can register independently. Ages 12-15 can attend with a parent or guardian. No one under the age of 12 allowed.

During this trip, participants will learn and practice:

• outdoor climbing etiquette and Leave No Trace principles.
• what gear is needed for outdoor top rope climbing and rappelling.
• climbing crag safety guidelines.
• how to use climbing gear appropriately.
• tying into a climbing rope and harness.
• climbing communication and commands.
• analyzing and selecting climbing routes.
• identifying and using natural climbing holds.
• lots of climbing on real rock!
• belaying outdoors (ASCEND indoor top rope certification required).
• rappelling set ups and technique
• lots of rappelling practice!

ASCEND can provide any needed climbing gear. Participants will receive a discount on gear purchases after the event if interested in building up your personal gear collection.

Coopers Rock State Forest, Bruceton Mills WV (outside of Morgantown, about 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh)

• Meeting place is the main entrance parking lot, located GPS: 39.656150, -79.785584. You can type those GPS coordinates directly into Google Maps and it should take you to the parking lot.
• As soon as you get off of the highway and enter Cooper's Rock Forest, it is the first parking lot you'll see on the right. There are pit toilets in this parking lot that you should be able to use when you arrive, there will not be restrooms immediately available at the crag; you will need to drive back to use them at this initial meeting place.

In regards to your booking, here is some highly important information, please be sure to review everything in detail as soon as you can:

WAIVER/FORMS

• All participants must sign the ASCEND Assumption of Risk and Release and Indemnity Agreement and Outdoor Waiver. PLEASE NOTE this is different than our indoor climbing waiver. Participants under the age of 18 must have this document completed by their legal guardian.
• You're also responsible for providing us any relevant medical information. A medical history form will be provided by our guides during the pre-climbing safety meeting. For medical questions or concerns, please email climbing@ascendclimbing.com.

ARRIVAL

• We kindly request that you show up at least 15 minutes before the booking is scheduled to start.
• Please be prompt so as to respect everyone's time and take advantage of as much of the day as possible. We may move locations, so it is not guaranteed we will be at the specified meeting place for the whole session, and communication methods can be unreliable. Thank you for understanding!

CANCELLATION

• What if ASCEND cancels?
  • Our guides will use their best judgment when deciding whether to reschedule or cancel a booking. We generally schedule our trips for Saturdays hoping to use the following Sunday as a back up day if needed. You will be notified by email if your booking is rescheduled or canceled due to inclement weather, low attendance, or other unexpected/unforeseen circumstances, and will be given a full refund or rebooked into an upcoming trip.
• What if the PARTICIPANT cancels?
  • Cancel more than 7 days before your booking: You will receive a 100% refund to your original payment method.
  • Cancel between 48 hours and 7 days before your booking: You will receive 100% of your payment back as store credit.
  • Cancel less than 48 hours before your booking: No refund or store credit will be issued.

GEAR

• Appropriate clothing for the weather and the outdoors (rain shell, boots, etc.)
• Sunscreen/bug repellent (NO deet, damages nylon equipment)
• (Back) pack
• Water/Food
• Closed toed, lacing shoes or boots
• Personal medications
• Hand sanitizer, face covering
• ASCEND can provide any climbing equipment needed, however you will need climbing shoes in your specific size! If you need to borrow a pair, please arrange to visit our Point Breeze Facility to pick up a rental pair prior to your trip date.
• Personal climbing gear can be used granted that it passes normal safety checks.

WEATHER

• Forecasts are highly unpredictable until the day before/of a trip. IF on Friday morning, the weather is forecasted to be significantly inclement on Saturday, ASCEND will reach out to you via email and we will attempt the trip on Sunday. If the weather is also inclement on Sunday, we will reschedule to another weekend in the future.

CRAG ETIQUETTE

• Pets are not permitted during outdoor programming. For safety reasons, we need as few distractions as possible, during our time with you. Service animals are permitted with appropriate documentation in advance. Please reach out to climbing@ascendclimbing.com with any questions.
• Please consider tipping for your guides' efforts that are above and beyond what you would expect. It is common in the industry but not required.