Expeditions

Backcountry Rock Climbing - 30 Day

Add experience in the mountains to your passion for rock climbing

Duration

30 days

Age

16+

Overview

About this course

Climb and explore the Wind River Range

Find new challenges rock climbing in the mountains. On this course, you’ll dive into learning leadership and rock climbing in one of the United States’ premier mountain ranges for climbing. You’ll start by backpacking deep into Wyoming’s Wind River mountains, where you’ll set up a base camp and learn the basics of outdoor living.

As you begin the climbing skills progression, you will learn and practice skills like tying knots, belaying, and placing climbing protection. As the course progresses, you may move into more advanced skills, like lead climbing and vertical rescue. On the days when you don’t climb, explore the area’s clear lakes and forests of lodgepole pine, learning about local ecology and human history. Whether you’re new to rock climbing or are excited to take knowledge you already have to the mountains, this course will give you plenty of opportunities to grow.

Leadership skills will be a key part of this course from the beginning. Taking on different leadership roles each day will help you develop skills like self leadership, communication, and decision making. Your experiences on the rock and living with your group in the outdoors will help you discover your unique leadership style. At the end of this course, you’ll walk away with experiences that will prepare you to be a leader, no matter where you find yourself.

Resources

Resources & downloads

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Free course guide

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  • Detailed daily objectives and skills progression

  • Sample outline from last year's course

  • Pre-course preparation guide


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TBA

Tuition varies by location. Financial aid available.

Duration

30 days

Location

Lander, Wyoming

Equipment Deposit

400

Academic Credit

6 College Credits

  • 2 Environmental Studies
  • 2 Risk Assessment
  • 2 Skills Practicum

1.5 High School Credits

  • 1 Physical Education
  • 0.5 Leadership

Start/End

Lander, Wyoming

Fly In/Out

Riverton, WY (RIW)

Course Session Dates

No Course Sessions enrolling.

testimonial

What our graduates have to say

“While I learned many skills that are important for success in rock climbing and the outdoors in general, the most valuable take away from this course were the relationships I have forged and the confidence I have to take on a leadership role in not only the outdoors but in other aspects of my personal and professional life. During my course, I learned how to create an environment where communication between an entire group leads to effective and positive decisions. I learned how taking into account individual differences can lead to different dynamics in cooperation.”

— Max D., NOLS Southwest Climbing grad

Financial aid & Scholarships

NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:

  • AmeriCorps
  • 529 College Savings Plans
  • Veteran's Benefits (only for courses fully in the state of Wyoming)

Questions?

Still have questions?

Talk to an admissions advisor, or request a free catalog to learn more about which course is right for you.