Upcoming Transitioning from Single Pitch to Multi-Pitch Trad Leading – June 28

Clinic Details

This clinic is for experienced single pitch trad leaders looking to make the transition from leading single pitch routes to leading multi-pitch routes.

The clinic would also benefit newish multi-pitch trad leaders who have perhaps already experienced minor “epics” and/or inefficient leads/belays/rappels.

 

Climic will be held Saturday June 28  at Sugarloaf.   Meetup time is 8:30 am – gate opens at 8:00 am.

Rain date is the following day Sunday June 29.

Clinic size will be limited and will be determined by the number of instructors available.

Clinic Topics

Multipitch is more than just stacking one single pitch climb on top of another.

In addition to addressing issues that apply to both single pitch and multivpitch trad routes, we will also consider concerns and techniques that come into play for multi pitch routes such as:

– before you leave the ground – what to bring, contingency plans, swing or block leading, etc.
– differences between single pitch and multipitch routes
– anchor considerations – how multipitch may differ from single pitch
– rope management
– gear exchange
– transitions at the belay
– transitions at the rappel

Clinic participants should have significant single pitch trad leading experience. Please do not sign up if you are a new single pitch trad leader.
We will NOT be covering entry level trad skills such as:

– knots and hitches
– types of pro, how to place pro, and when to extend this
– how to build anchors
– how to rappel

Registration will open 8am June 14. Please fill in the registration questions.

For more information contact Marty Cominsky, the clinic organizer – martycomiskey at yahoo.com

Cancellations

To cancel, keep your registration email, or contact the trip organizer or the webmaster at pactms.org

Please cancel your registration if you are no longer able to attend so someone can have your spot. If you no show once, you will get an email from the Chair. If you no show twice, you will not be allowed to sign up for another event for 3 months. If you continue to no show, your membership will be cancelled and refunded.

If you can’t make it the morning of the event, at least give the trip leader a courtesy call so that no one is waiting for you in the parking lot.

Please note that this is not a guided event and none of our trip leaders are professional guides. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and you do so at your own risk. You are responsible for yourself and your own safety at all times.

  • Multi Pitch Trad Leading
     June 28, 2025
     8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Admission


Venue:  

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Venue Website:

Address:
7901 Comus Road, Dickerson, Maryland, 20842, United States

Description:

Sugarloaf Mountain is a small 1,200ft monadnock  20 miles south of Frederick, MD.  Sugarloaf offers local climbers some of the closest traditional lead climbing to the Washington Metro Area. It is also notable for some excellent top-rope routes, as well as numerous boulder problems scattered throughout the forest.

The private Stronghold Foundation owns the land and welcomes many hikers and climbers each year.  Please bring $5 cash to donate at the entrance (encouraged but not required). Sugarloaf is also a trash free park, so pack it in pack it out. There are port-a-potties at the West parking lot.

The most popular climbing areas – Middle Earth and Boy Scout Ledges – are a short walk from the  West View Parking lot

To reach Sugarloaf, follow I270 to the Hyattstown exit, follow Route 109 to Comus, then right on Comus Road to the Sugarloaf Mountain entrance.