Bliss Climbing and Fitness Lead Course
Level Up Your Climbing: Learn to Lead Climb at Bliss
Ready to move beyond top-roping? Our Indoor Lead Climbing Course is designed to transition you comfortably and confidently into lead climbing and lead belaying. Over a total of roughly 6 hours of total instruction and practice, you will learn the foundational technical skills, practice safety drills under expert supervision, and learn to manage the mental game of leading.
Course Structure & Commitment
To ensure you are fully prepared to pass your official test-out, the course requires a total of 6 hours of combined class time and logged practice:
- Session 1: Core Knowledge (2 Hours)
- Covers the fundamentals: lead climbing and belaying theory, rope management, and proper clipping techniques.
- Includes off-the-wall drills and backed-up, on-the-wall partnered practice.
- If time allows, you may take your first practice lead fall caught by the instructor.
- Session 2: Coached Practice (2 Hours)
- Scheduled exactly 1 week after Session 1.
- A fully active, coached session dedicated entirely to lead climbing, lead belaying, and receiving live feedback from your instructor.
- Independent Practice (2 Hours)
- Outside of class, you will log 1 hour of lead climbing and 1 hour of lead belaying on a backed-up belay (using a top-rope or auto-belay backup) on your own time before taking your official test-out.
Pricing, Prerequisites, and Schedule
Once you’ve reviewed the course requirements, just reach out to our team to get on the schedule!
Pricing
- Members: $79
- Non-Members: $99
Course Perks Include:
- Free lead rope rental during your independent practice session for 30 days after taking the course.
- Access to our monthly instructor-lead lead climbing training sessions.
Prerequisites
Before registering, you must meet the following safety and skill benchmarks:
- Age: 16+
- Certification: Must be Top Rope certified at Bliss.
- Climbing Ability: Able to comfortably test out on a 5.9 route.
- Belay Experience: Must have been belaying consistently for the last 3 months (at least 20 top-rope routes belayed).
Class Size & Partner Policy
- Class Size: Minimum 2 / Maximum 4 students.
- Solo Registering? If you are the only person signed up for a slot, you can still take the class! You just need to bring a partner who is already lead-certified at Bliss to be present during the class for climbing portions.
Testing Out
After completing both sessions and logging your 2 hours of independent practice, you can schedule your official test-out at your convenience. Please note that scheduling is required, and you’ll be testing on our designated test-out route.
Note: The mandatory minimum grade required to pass your lead test-out is 5.9.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Get in touch with us today to schedule and reserve your spot!
