Top Rope Guide

The Top Rope Guide Course offered by NMCG is a comprehensive training program designed for aspiring climbing guides who want to specialize in top rope guiding. This course is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and facilitate safe and enjoyable climbing experiences for clients.

Throughout the course, participants will delve into various aspects of top rope guiding, including route selection, anchor systems, equipment management, risk assessment, and client instruction. Led by experienced instructors, the course combines theoretical instruction with practical hands-on training to ensure a well-rounded learning experience.

Participants will gain a solid foundation in rope management techniques, hazard recognition, and emergency response strategies. They will learn to assess climbing sites for safety, set up secure top rope anchor systems, and effectively communicate with clients to provide clear instructions and guidance.

The PCGI Top Rope Guide Course goes beyond technical skills, focusing on developing leadership abilities and fostering a deep understanding of the responsibilities that come with guiding others. Participants will learn about client management, group dynamics, and the importance of effective communication in creating a positive and safe climbing environment.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Top Rope Guide Certification from PCGI, which is recognized within the climbing industry. This certification opens up opportunities for employment as a top rope guide and paves the way for further progression in the field of professional climbing guiding.

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast seeking a career in climbing guiding or an experienced climber looking to enhance your skills, the Top Rope Guide Course through PCGI provides the knowledge and practical training necessary to excel in the world of top rope guiding in enchanting New Mexico and beyond.

Cost: $600

Length: 3 day

Minimum 2 students

Single Pitch Guide

The Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Guide Course provided by NMCG is a comprehensive training program designed for individuals aspiring to become professional climbing guides specializing in single pitch environments. This course equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to lead and instruct others in single pitch climbing settings with a strong focus on safety and professionalism.

Throughout the course, participants will delve into the essential aspects of single pitch guiding, including risk management, anchor systems, belaying techniques, teaching methods, route selection, and client management. The course combines theoretical instruction with practical hands-on training to ensure a well-rounded learning experience.

Led by highly experienced instructors, the SPI Guide Course covers a wide range of topics, including rope management, equipment selection, hazard assessment, emergency response, and teaching progressions. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how to create and maintain a safe climbing environment, ensuring the welfare of both themselves and their clients.

The curriculum emphasizes not only technical skills but also the development of effective teaching methodologies and communication strategies. Participants will learn how to deliver clear and concise instructions, facilitate skill progression, and adapt their teaching approach to different learning styles and abilities.

Upon successful completion of the SPI Guide Course, participants will be awarded the Single Pitch Instructor Certification from PCGI. This certification is highly regarded within the climbing industry and serves as a recognized qualification for employment as a single pitch climbing guide. It also provides a solid foundation for further career advancement in the field of professional climbing instruction and guiding.

Whether you’re a passionate climber seeking a career as an instructor or an experienced outdoor professional looking to expand your skill set, the SPI Guide Course through PCGI offers a rigorous and comprehensive training program that equips you with the knowledge and expertise to guide others safely and effectively in single pitch climbing environments.

Cost: $675

Length: 3 day

Minimum 2 students

Lead Guide

The Lead Guide (LG) course is an advanced-level training program designed for rock climbing guides. Building upon the skills learned in the single pitch guide course, the LG course focuses on more advanced guiding and rescue techniques specific to single and multi-pitch rock climbing with two clients. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to modern guiding tools and techniques for guiding routes up to four pitches in length.

The LG course covers a variety of terrain, incorporating both single and multi-pitch guide techniques. Topics include traverse and fall line management, complex approaches and descents, introduction to short-pitching and short-roping, and navigating 2nd to 5th class terrain with two clients. Additionally, the course covers important aspects such as facilitator training, client care, guiding ethics, risk management, environmental ethics, and hazard mitigation.

The primary focus of the LG course is to equip guides with the skills to create positive experiences for clients while effectively managing risk and safely navigating non-technical and technical terrain with up to two clients. It is important to note that all NMCG courses are tailored for rock climbing in non-glacial environments and do not address snow or ice travel.

A key objective of this training is to provide an open forum for exchanging ideas while presenting practical guiding skill standards. The LG course combines technical hands-on guide training with discussions on common guide concerns, instructor demonstrations of guiding and instruction techniques, and ample participant practice of the skills presented.

Cost: $2500

Length: 7 day

Minimum 2 students

TRG Assessment

The PCGI Top Rope Guide (TRG) certification signifies a high level of competency and expertise in safely and effectively setting up top rope climbing sites using various types of anchors, including traditional, natural, and bolted ones. A PCGI TRG is skilled in guiding climbers in technical rock climbing environments that do not involve techniques like short roping, short pitching, or lead climbing. This certification follows standardized guidelines and prepares guides to operate in a wide range of top rope climbing areas across the United States and beyond.

To qualify for the TRG assessment, individuals must comfortably climb 5.7-rated rock routes (this must be documented in the climbs roster of the registration form). They should have completed the PCGI TRG training or an equivalent course from reputable organizations such as PCIA, AMGA, or undergone in-house training with similar content. Additionally, candidates are expected to possess and bring appropriate climbing gear necessary for guiding top rope rock climbing experiences.

Cost: $300

Length: 1 day

Minimum 2 students

SPG – prerequisites:

1) Comfortable lead climbing 5.6 traditional and sport climbing routes (must be documented via the climbs roster of the course registration form).

2) Capable of using traditional climbing gear (camming devices and stoppers) to build standard three-piece traditional anchors.

3) Lead climbing experience of at least two years. Prior top-rope guiding experience strongly suggested.

4) Working knowledge of the following knots and hitches

Figure-eight follow through

Figure-eight and overhand on a bight

Double figure-eight and overhand

Bowline

Double fisherman

Clove hitch

Munter hitch

Friction hitches

SPG Assessment

The PCGI SPG certification has been developed to represent single-pitch rock climbing guiding in general single-pitch terrain. This includes both bottom managed and top managed guiding techniques as needed to safely conduct the guided single-pitch and top rope experience for any given client. A Certified SPG demonstrates competency in leading 5.7 single-pitch rock climbs safely and efficiently with 2 clients and can effectively facilitate the client’s experience to match their skills, abilities, and expectations. The PCGI SPG certification is a standardized single-pitch rock climbing guide certification and enables a guide to competently, safely, and efficiently facilitate guided single-pitch climbing in a broad range of locations and rock types.

Cost: $300

Length: 1 day

Minimum 2 students

Lead Guide Course prerequisites:

Ability to comfortably lead, 5.8 traditional multi-pitch rock climbs (must be documented via the climbs roster of the registration form)

Familiarity and competency with building solid climbing anchors with traditional climbing gear, i.e. stoppers, cams,, tri-cams, etc.

Climbing experience of at least 3 years

Guiding experience of at least 1 year at the Single Pitch level or more

Having taken a Single Pitch Guide course or Assessment

Take the PCGI Rescue Course prior or concurrently

Own, bring, and have competency with gear/rack for leading traditional rock climbs, such as stoppers, cams, tri-cams, 50-70M dynamic climbing rope, anchor materials such as 7mm cord, as well as a belay device, climbing shoes and climbing helmet.

Working knowledge of the following knots and hitches:

a. Figure-eight follow through

b. Figure-eight and overhand on bight

c. Super-eight

d. Double fishermans

e. Bowline

f. Munter hitch and munter-mule-overhand

g. Clove hitch

h. Friction hitches

LG Assessment

The PCGI LG Certification represents rock climbing guiding in non-glaciated terrain up to 4 pitches in length. The Certified PCGI Lead Guide is a guide who has demonstrated competency and efficiency in techniques necessary to complete guided rock climbing ascents with 2 clients on routes of 1-4 pitches with potentially complex approaches or descents. They must demonstrate competency in techniques including short pitching, spotting, modeling, coaching, lowering, rappels and multi-pitch rescue techniques as well as leading on traditional gear on routes up to 5.8. The Lead Guide Standard is the perfect hybrid of the Single-Pitch Guide Standard and the Multi-Pitch Guide Standard. In the Lead Guide Standard, intermediate belays are implemented for the purpose of approaching climbs/routes and/or on descents. The PCGI LG certification is a full fledged standardized rock climbing guide certification and enables a guide to be certified for a very large percentage of the guided rock climbing that exists in the USA.

Note: In order to gain PCGI Lead Guide Certification, students must pass both the PCGI Lead Guide Assessment & Rescue Assessment within a 12-month period, or assessments must be re-taken.

Lead Guide Assessment – Prerequisites:

Comfortably lead traditional rock climbs rated 5.8 up to 4 pitches long (must be documented via the climbs roster of the registration form)

Comfortably guide 2 clients up to 5.8 traditional rock climbs (must be documented via the climbs roster of the registration form)

Complete PCGI LG course, or equivalent multi-pitch guiding course from any recognized climbing guide training organizations (please provide documentation on registration form)

Have previously completed Single Pitch Guide Course and Assessment or equivalent

Cost: $700

Length: 2 days for Lead Guide Assessment, 1 day for Rescue Assessment (separate)

Minimum 1 students