Instructional Trips

The ultimate reason for forming the Stanford Alpine Club is to help foster climbing relationships and give people the opportunity to get outdoors as much as possible. As a result, we are constantly planning new trips and events for members to get to know each other and to get out and explore the mountains together. For liability reasons, all officially sponsored club trips are limited to club members only; however the instructional trips are meant for anyone in the Stanford community interested in learning to climb.

In addition to the official club trips, there are also countless informal trips (which are open to everyone) being planned all the time within the group. Our weekly meetings are the primary forum for planning such trips so everyone is highly encouraged to come to them.

In the past, one such informal group heads up to Castle Rock on Wednesday afternoons during Daylight Savings Time to hang out, boulder, and just enjoy the outdoors. In Summer 2005-07, this was a Wednesday evening trip to Handley Rock for toproping instead. (Rain in the previous 3 days cancels). Note: Daylight Savings Time ends on October 31, so don't expect any Wednesday afternoon bouldering trip until DST resumes in the spring.

Detailed SAC Rock Classes Curriculum

  • requirements for all instructional trips rev. 10/18/05, MS Word format
  • Beginning Class
  • Anchors I - Rocks, Trees, Bolts
  • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following (MS Word) (plain text)
  • Trad Lead rev. 10/18/05
    Curriculum for all 4 rock classes (combined PDF, 4/2004)

    Instructors for SAC Classes

    Would you like to be an instructor in a SAC Class?
    Here's what you need to do:

  • Fill out the regular SAC survey (if you haven't already), so we have a general idea of your climbing experience and interests.
  • Check the instructor qualifications for the trip(s) you'd like to help with.
  • Fill out the SAC Instructors survey which has a couple of more detailed questions on experience - (estimated) number of anchors set, comfortable leading level, etc.
  • Send an email to the trip leader or the SAC president to indicate your interest. At a more personal level, we are not just into forms and surveys, but we want to have actually climbed with you. So if the current instructors/trip leaders don't already know you from informal trips or past classes, we will set up an informal trip to meet you.
  • Check out the Recommended Skills List for SAC Instructors. These are not actually required or tested, but they are a useful list of skills which most instructors should have.

    Currently scheduled classes

    Class details are announced by email on the climbing email list (see the Membership page). You do not have to be a SAC member to take a class, but entry fee is discounted, and you can join at any time. If details have not been announced yet, check the Past classes section to see how the class was donen in previous years.

    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 1 of 2) - October 10-11, 2009
      trip leaders: Dave Cameron, Dave Johnson
      instructors: Ian Post, Sam Chang
    • Anchors I - Toproping anchors (trees, rocks, bolts) - October 17 or 18, 2009
      trip leader: Jim Castelaz
      instructors: Jon Denby, Linnea Williams, Matt Jennings
    • Intro to Outdoor Climbing, at Ring Mountain - October 24, 2009
      trip leader: Blase
      instructors: Steve Hibbs, Caitlin Brown, Matt Jennings, Pat Flaherty, Jason Wagoner
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 2 of 2) - October 24-25, 2009
      trip leader: Alex Nees
      instructors: Chris McGuiness, Clint Cummins, Warren Caldwell
    • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following - November 7-8, 2009
      trip leader: Chris McGuiness
      instructors: Sharon West, Wei Wu, Martin Nagel, Clint Cummins
    • Beginner's Trip - November 14-15, 2009
      trip leader: Dave Cameron
      instructors: Sam Chang, Matt Norcia, Orion, Matt Jennings

    Past classes (likely to be taught again)

    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 2 of 2) - May 16-17, 2009
      trip leader: Alex Nees
    • Intro to Outdoor Climbing, at Turtle Rock - May 16, 2009
      trip leaders: Steve Hibbs, Jon Denby, Matt Jennings
      logistics: Blase
      see Blase's email
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 1 of 2) - May 9-10, 2009
      classroom session: April 30, 7-9pm
      trip leader: Dave Johnson
      see Dave's email
    • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following - April 18-19, 2009
      trip leader: Dave Cameron
    • Anchors I - Toproping anchors (trees, rocks, bolts) - April 5, 2009
      trip leader: Jon Denby
    • Avalanche Awareness AIARE Level 1 - mid-February or mid-March, 2009
      instructors: Mountain Adventure Seminars, Bear Valley
      see Adrianne's email
    • Intro rock climbing trip, at Castle Rock - February 28, 2009
      instructors: Blase, Clint, Martin (Cancelled due to rain)
    • SAC/OEP BackCountry Workshop - Mountaineering 1 - February 28 - March 1, 2009
      instructors: Chris C, Paul, Dave J, et al
    • Introduction to Telemark Skiing - February 7-8, 2009
      instructors: Alexis, Jesse
    • Crevasse Rescue - February 5,6, 2009
      instructors: Paul, Sam, Ian, Warren
      classroom session: February 5
      outdoor practice session: February 6
      see Paul's email
    • Intro rock climbing trip, at Ring Mountain - November 15, 2008
      instructors: Blase, Wong, Matt Y
    • Learning to Sport Lead - November 2, 2008
      instructors: leaders: Blase, Linnea, Peter, Orion, Brian
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 2 of 2) - November 1-2, 2008
      instructors: Ken, Paul, Ian, Clint, Chris, Warren
    • Intro rock climbing trip, at Castle Rock - October 18 or 19, 2008
      instructors: Blase, Linnea, Peter, James, Matt, Orion
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 1 of 2) - October 18-19, 2008
      instructors: Ian, Clint, Chris, Warren, Paul, Jim, Alex
    • Anchors 2a - Gear anchors (cams, nuts) - October 12, 2008
      trip leader: Paul
      this class will not include the "multipitch following" which is normally part of our Anchors II class
      Chris's email
    • Anchors I - Toproping anchors (trees, rocks, bolts) - October 11, 2008
      instructors: Linnea, Matt, Martin, Irina, Alexis, Orion, Brian
      Chris's email
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 2 of 2) - May 17-18, 2008
      trip leader: Bjorn
      instructors: Jared, Nathan
    • Snow and Ice anchors for Mountaineering - May 10-11, 2008
      trip leaders: Warren, Paul
    • Trad Lead Workshop (part 1 of 2) - May 3-4, 2008
      trip leader: Chris McG
      instructors: Paul, Clint
    • Bouldering - April 26, 2008
      trip leaders: Blase, Will
    • Self Rescue - April 22, 2008
      prusiking and ascender practice, at Handley Rock
      trip leader: Clint
    • Intro to Mountaineering - April 19-20, 2008
      trip leaders: Warren, Paul
    • Learning to Sport Lead - April 19, 2008
      trip leaders: Blase, Linnea
    • Anchors I - Toproping - April 5 or 6, 2008
      trip leader: Nathan Bronson
    • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following - November 10-11, 2007
      Classroom Session - November 8 - open to all
      trip leader: Chris McGuiness
      instructors: Sharon, Björn, Brent, Sam, Clint
    • Anchors I - Rocks, Trees, Bolts - October 20, 2007
      trip leader: Warren
      instructors: Sharon, Björn
    • Intro rock climbing class, at Pinnacles - October 13, 2007
      trip leader: Linnea
      instructors: Clint, Brent, Adrian
      Linnea's email
      photos
    • Intro rock climbing trip, at Castle Rock - October 7, 2007
      trip leader: Eu-Jin
      instructors: Blase, Linus, Paul
      Eu-Jin's email
    • Basic Mountaineering climb - May 19-20?, 2007
      trip leader: Leor Pantilat
      A climb with a steep snow slope, so people can learn or refresh basic skills such as self-arrest, snow anchors and belays.
    • Lead Climbing - April 21-22, May 5-6, 2007
      trip leaders: Jared Brown, Chris Chan
      Jared's email
    • Intro to telemarking - March 10-11, 2007
      classroom session: February 15
      trip leaders: Ann + Erik
      Ann's email
    • Intro to Mountaineering - March 3-4, 2007
      classroom sessions: February 22, March 1
      trip leaders: Warren Caldwell, Eu-Jin Goh, Paul Csonka
      Warren's email
    • Intro rock climbing class, at Castle Rock - February 3, 2007
      trip leader: Linnea
      instructors: Björn, Clint, Kent
      Linnea's email
      Rain cancelled the original Jan 27 trip.
    • Crevasse Rescue - January 27, 2007
      classroom session - January 25, 7-9pm, location TBA
      trip leader: Warren Caldwell
      Warren's email
    • Intro to Avalanche Safety - [CANCELLED - was January 20-21, 2006]
      classroom session - [CANCELLED - was January 17, 6pm, location TBA]
      We need to find a new trip leader, since Mike had to return earlier than planned to Alaska.
    • Intro to cross-country skiing - January 13-14, 2007
      classroom session - January 9, 7-9pm, Clark Center S360
      trip leaders: Ann + Erik
      Ann's email (updated January 7)
    • Anchors I - Rocks, Trees, Bolts - October 28, 2006
      instructors: Darko Sarenac, Sam Chang
      Darko's email
    • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following - October 21-22, 2006
      Classroom Session - October 19 - open to all outline of 2005 talk
      trip leader: Darko Sarenac
      instructors: Matt, Jared, Clint
      Darko's email
    • Intro trip - October 14, 2006
      Belay Skills Session at Climbing Wall - October 13, 6:30pm
      trip leader: Sharon Houck
      instructors: Linnea Williams, Erika, Michele, Clint
      Sharon's email
    • Intro trip - May 21, 2006
      trip leader: Björn Flatt
    • Anchors I - Rocks, Trees, Bolts - May 20, 2006
      trip leader: Niloy Mitra
    • Lead Climbing - April 29-30, May 13-14, 2006
      trip leaders: Matt Farrell, Chris Chan
    • Intro trip - April 8 or 9, 2006
      trip leader: Chris Chan
      details and updates
    • Self Rescue - at the Stanford Climbing Wall
      trip leader: Bryan Palmintier
    • Telemarking - February 25-26, 2006
      classroom session - February 23, 7-9pm
      trip leader: Marshall Burke
      Marshall's email
    • Avalanche Safety - January 28-29, 2006
    • Anchors II - Gear Anchors and Trad Following - November 12-13, 2005
      Classroom Session - November 10 - open to all detailed outline of talk  
      trip leader: Clint Cummins
      instructors: John, Sam, Darko
      Clint's email
      trip report + photos
    • Beginning Class - October 29, 2005
      trip leader: Arthur Rallu
    • Beginning Class - October 23, 2005
      trip leader: John Montgomery-Brown
    • Anchors I - Rocks, Trees, Bolts - October 22, 2005
      trip leader: Niloy Mitra
      instructors: Chuck, Jared, Kali
      handout
    • Lead Climbing - May 7-8, May 21-22, 2005
      trip leader: Dave Weaver
    • Mountaineering - April 9-10, April 22-24, 2005
      trip leader: Chuck Booten
    • Intro trip - April 17 (Sunday)
      trip leader: Niloy Mitra
    • Anchors I - April 16-17
      trip leader: Joe Cackler
    • Wilderness First Aid - April 2-3 (16 hours, Medical School)
      cost: $78
      details
    • Telemark skiing - March 3 (classroom), March 5-6 (Kirkwood), 2005
      trip leader: Dave Weaver
      cost: $15 SAC members, $30 nonmembers
      details
      avalance safety classroom session (free)
    • Lead Climbing Back Country Workshop April 15,17-18, April 29, May 1-2, 2004
      email on the 2004 class
      photos
    • Intro Climbing Trip May 14 (gym), May 16 (Castle Rock), 2004
    • Passive Anchors Class May 15-16, 2004
      email on this 2004 class
    • October 17, 2004 - Anchors I - Castle Rock
      trip leader: Ross Fleischman
      cost: $15 SAC members, $25 nonmembers
      details
    • October 23-24, 2004 - Anchors II "Intro to multipitch following" - Yosemite Valley
      trip leader: Dave Weaver
      cost: $30 members, $45 nonmembers
      details
      classroom session outline
      photos
    • October 30, 2004 - Intro Climbing - Castle Rock
      trip leader: Mark Pauly
      cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers
      details
      photos
    • November 16 or 17, 2004 - Avalanche Beacon Class (classroom only)
      trip leader: Ross Fleischman
      cost: $2 SAC members, $5 nonmembers, free if you bring a transceiver
      details
    • Beginner Instructional Trip

    roster / skill checkoff spreadsheet (2004, Excel format)

    General instructional materials

    last modified Saturday, 26-Sep-2009 13:12:07 PDT