Rock 2 - Anchors, Rappelling & Intro to Lead Climbing
Learn to build anchors for your own top ropes, place, clip and remove quick draws, practice climbing, rappelling and the basics of leading outdoors. Rock 2 is designed for climbers who have gained the skills taught in Rock 1 or gym climbers with a mastery of belaying and being lowered.
Course Dates
- May 30, 2026 (Saturday)
- Jun 27, 2026 (Saturday)
- Aug 1, 2026 (Saturday)
- Sep 12, 2026 (Saturday)
You’ll learn how to set up and clean top rope anchors on bolts, and how to safely lead and lead belay sport climbs, including clipping safely and efficiently, and assessing the safety of a route. Refining fundamental movements, introducing new moves and pacing on a route are also covered.
ROCK 2 Course Objectives
- Set up top rope anchors on bolted climbs
- Safely clean anchors and lower or rappel
- Place and clip quickdraws
- Lead sport routes
- Belay and lower a leader on sport routes
- Assess the safety of a sport route
- Refine movement and learn new moves
- Understand pacing on a route
Learning to lead will be done with a top rope in place for back-up.
Max Student : Instructor Ratio
4 : 1
Next Steps in Outdoor Rock Climbing Progression
Once you have completed Rock 2 and would like to learn and practice leading on steeper sport routes, you can take Rock 3.
Or you could progress into our Trad Series.
Course dates don’t fit your schedule?
Any of our pre-scheduled courses can be run as custom outings. If you’re interested in a course but the dates don’t fit your schedule, please check out our private guiding options.
Course Prerequisites
- Rock 2 is designed for climbers who have gained the skills taught in Rock 1 or those who have learned to climb in the gym and are confident with how to belay, lower and be lowered.
Fitness & Skill Level
- You must be able to easily hike 1 mile on variable, uneven terrain (at 7,000′-10,000′ elevation) from the trailhead to access rock climbing crags.
This full-day course takes place in one of Salt Lake City’s local canyons (expect to be in the field for 8 hours). Guests are expected to bring their own snacks, lunch and water (1-2 liters). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.
SCHEDULE & MEETING LOCATION
The usual meeting time and place are 8 am at the Big Cottonwood Park & Ride lot, but these are subject to change. Exact meeting times and locations will be provided to registered guests before the course date.
GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR
You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor. They will contact you directly by email to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.
TRANSPORTATION & PARKING
Transportation will not be provided. Most canyon parking lots require a parking fee.
How To Register
- Register Online
- Call us at (801) 550-3986
- Email us at [email protected]
UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 3 participants register.
Rock 2 COURSE EQUIPMENT LIST
- Comfortable and flexible pants or shorts, and a shirt
- Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket
- Light puffy overcoat and or other insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- 1 to 2 liters of water (water bag recommended for multi-pitch)
- Lunch and quick energy snacks
- Approach shoes (no sandals)
- Day pack (~25-45 liters)
- Harness
- Belay device
- Helmet
- Rock climbing shoes
Please see our Rock Climbing Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.
Recommended Guidebooks
Rock Climbing the Wasatch Range by Stuart and Bret Ruckman
Please see our main FAQ page for general questions or for anything not covered below.
Can I lead?
Yes, but a backup top rope is always included for safety.
How tight should my rock shoes fit?
For learning and climbing moderate routes, get a half-size bigger shoe than the sales or rental clerk recommends. Toes do not need to be crushed inside the shoe. Nothing spoils the fun like foot pain!
Should I wear pants or shorts?
Shorts are nicer for warm days, but long pants will protect your legs from abrasive rock. If shorts are preferred, they should be long enough to go under the leg loops of the harness.
Does the course include climbing equipment?
UMA provides helmets, harnesses, locking carabiners and belay devices to each participant if they don’t have their own. UMA has a limited selection of rock climbing shoes, but we recommend you rent shoes at a shop to ensure a proper fit. Please sign up for the items you need in your portal. The guides will bring participant equipment as well as all the group climbing gear.
How old do I need to be to climb?
Students must be at least 14 years of age to join a group course. For private guiding and instruction, there is no age restriction; even five and six-year-olds seem to enjoy rock climbs with short approaches and lots of holds. Longer approaches and multi-pitch climbing are typically not appropriate for kids under 11.
Where do I meet my guide?
Before the start of the course, your guide/instructor will confirm by email the meeting time and location. Most commonly, this location is the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride lot.
