Starts Sep 12
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What is the Queer Trad Climbing 101Weekend?
Two-day weekend course:
Saturday September 13, 8am–4pm + Sunday September 14, 8am–1pm
Location: Index, Washington
5:1 max climber to instructor ratio
Focus on trad gear placement, anchor building, and leading fundamentals
Who is this for?
LGBTQIA2S+ climbers ready to take the next step: This weekend is exclusively for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. OUT in the Wild exists to provide a space where queer climbers can build technical skills, find community, and feel genuinely represented — by guides who share those identities. Whether you're a solo queer climber looking for your people or hoping to add a new discipline, this is your space.
Climbers who want a brave, non-competitive learning environment: Our instructors are queer people committed to creating a trauma-informed, psychologically safe space to try hard and make mistakes. Outdoor climbing culture hasn't always welcomed us — we're building something different.
*A Note on Pricing*
This course uses a sliding scale tuition model, made possible in part by the Arc'teryx Community Grant Program.
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Community Rate: $100
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Standard Rate: $250
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Pay-it-Forward Rate: $400
Not sure which rate to choose? Pick the lowest rate that feels genuinely accessible to you — the Pay-it-Forward rate helps subsidize spots for climbers who need the Community rate. No explanation required.
Climber Prerequisites
This program is designed for climbers ready to move beyond top rope and into the world of trad. You'll get the most out of the weekend if you are able to*:
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Top-rope belay independently with a tube-style (ATC) or assisted braking (GriGri) device
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Climb 5.9 comfortably in the gym
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Tie in with a figure-8 follow-through and complete your own safety checks
*If you're curious but not sure if it's a good fit, please reach out! We're always happy to talk more about experience levels and answer questions.
What’s included?
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Instruction covering trad gear selection and placement (cams, nuts, hexes, and more), anchor building with gear, and supervised trad leading with a top rope backup.
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Personal climbing equipment: Harnesses and Helmets - WE DO NOT RENT SHOES
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Group gear: ropes, anchoring material, belay devices, and trad rack*
* Students are welcome and encouraged to bring their own gear if they have it! Always a good idea to get to know what you have.
What’s not included?
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Personal climbing gear - climbing shoes*
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Transportation to Index, including WA State “Discover Pass” needed for parking
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Guide gratuity
What You'll Learn
Our aim is to give students the foundation to become competent, safe trad climbers.
Trad gear: We'll cover the full range of protection — cams, nuts, hexes, and more — including how each piece works and how to evaluate a placement.
Gear placement: Hands-on practice placing gear in real rock, with real-time feedback from a certified guide.
Crack technique: Hand jams, foot technique, and body positioning to help you move efficiently and confidently in cracks.
Leading fundamentals: An introduction to trad leading principles, with the opportunity to practice on mock leads with a top rope backup.
Location
Index is a small town on the North Fork Skykomish River about an hour and a half east of Seattle, and home to some of Washington's most celebrated crack climbing. The granite walls at Index offer an incredible variety of trad routes, from mellow single-pitch cracks perfect for learning to serious multi-pitch testpieces. It's an inspiring place to take your first steps into the trad world.