We are excited to announce that we are hosting our trip leader training on Saturday, April 5th, at Sugarloaf. We are encouraging PATC-MS members to become trip leaders themselves and offer their knowledge and expertise to our climbing community.
We will discuss important topics necessary to being a trip leader. You will learn how to assess new belayers, inspect top rope anchor systems and demonstrate safety at the edge. This is a great opportunity to get a refresher on top rope anchor systems as well. You will also learn soft skills that go into trip leading, such as event setup on the club website, caring for people and group management, securing club gear, liability considerations, and communication best practices.
Please contact Alexander Ovodenko ([email protected]) for more details.
-
April 5, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Venue: Sugarloaf
Venue Website: https://sugarloafmd.com
Address:
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.