Rock Guide Training
Do you aspire to be a rock guide? We've designed two training programs to get you started on the right foot. These courses can be scheduled at your convenience. They take place in the field with much structured practice. You'll use the skills you learn to guide the course instructor and possibly one other participant. Routes are chosen so that the skills you practiced will be required to solve the guiding challenges you encounter. A course textbook is included and contains day by day curriculum, essays about guiding, technical diagrams, and space for taking notes. Additionally, instructional videos are included for you to review during and after the course.
Single Pitch Climbing Instructor
These curriculums are designed for well rounded climbers that desire specific training in rock guiding for a cragging environment. Additionally, it offers skilled instructors extra training or review to increase their comfort level. It is intended for guides, not climbers, so a high degree of familiarity with climbing techniques is assumed.

Our rock guide training courses focus on the skills and techniques used to guide and instruct on routes up to and including Grade III in length. The course introduces and addresses tools to effectively manage multiple clients at belays, manage 3rd and 4th class terrain, transition from 5th class climbing to semi-technical terrain or technical descents, and assist your clients in case of contingencies (self rescue). Emphasis is placed on enhancing client rewards while efficiently and appropriately managing risk. The approaches and descents will be straightforward.

There are two tracks available.

Rock Guide Course (RGC). The RGC is broken into Modules to make it more convenient to complete your training. Additionally, extra training days between modules are recommended to further cement and enhance your comprehension. After training guides for 19 years we feel that the standard AMGA model is too much information in too little time without enough quality practice in the allotted course time. We feel strongly that modularization and additional structured practice days results in high skill retention.

Why should you train with ACI?
Our courses are run at a lower ratio than AMGA courses, 2:1 rather than 3:1. You'll spend more time out front (half the time instead of one third of the time) as the guide and come away with a better grasp on the material as well. Ratios in our rock guide courses are low to create the highest quality experience for the students and greater personal attention. Our instructors have been training rock guides since 1988. No one else in the US has been training guides longer.
If you elect not to work with us, then we strongly encourage you to take courses from an individual that has at least 10 years of experience teaching these courses. Quality instruction is most important when it comes time to take your exam so be sure you've been prepared by someone that knows the process and the standard at which you'll be examined. Ask how long they've been guiding; how long they've been teaching guides; if they themselves have ever been examined; and how many of their students have passed their subsequent exam. There are only a few individuals in the U.S. with the combination of significant guiding experience AND guide training experience that are qualified to offer this caliber of training. Don't be fooled by a lower price. Remember the best is never inexpensive.
Alan Jolley is our primary instructor for these courses. He was one of the originators of the Rock Guide Education and Certificaton Program for the AMGA. He helped design and implement their rock guides and advanced rock guides courses as well as their rock exams. He has been training and examining guides since 1988.
Prerequsites
Ability to lead 5.10 trad at the time of the course is preferred. Typically we won't be climbing anything this hard but a higher standard of leading makes it more likely that whatever climb we pick the student will be able to safely and competently lead it in a timely fashion. Additionally, you must have experience with and have complete mastery of the following:

• Knots: figure-8 (follow-through, and on a bight), bowline (single, double, on-a-coil), clove hitch, Munter hitch, prussik, klemheist, double fishermans
• Traditional protection: including hexes, stoppers, Tri-Cams, SLCD’s
• Belay methods: mechanical (more than two types of devices) and non-mechanical (hip belay)
• Multi-pitch rappels using a carabiner brake, figure-8 and plate device (Pyramid, Tuber, etc.)
• Improvised, non-mechanical ascending

Equipment List
The RGC & RIC outlines are identical.

Schedule & Tuition
These courses can be scheduled at your convenience. For specific costs see the RGC & RIC course description.

RGC / RIC Equipment List

Clothing
Be prepared for being outside and active during inclement weather. All clothing should be in good condition and appropriate for the activity.

Footwear
Bring comfortable climbing shoes. Approach shoes may be useful.

Pack
Include sunglasses, water bottle, sunscreen, pocket knife, first aid kit.
Bring a pencil or pen for note taking during the course.

Required Climbing Equipment

  • Climbing Helmet
  • Harness, belay loop recommended
  • One 50-60 meter rope (10-11mm) for climbing (mark the middle with a marker designed for such purpose)
  • A standard rock climbing rack which should generally include at least; one set of stoppers, a set of SLCD’s or Hexes, TriCams (.5, 1, 1.5)
  • 25 regular carabiners
  • 10-12 over the shoulder runners
  • 5 pear shaped locking carabiners
  • 2 - 3 cordelettes (18ft of 7mm nylon accessory cord)

** Mark your gear!
*** Mark the middle of your rope with a marker expressly designed for such purposes. We recommend a marker made by Bluewater Ropes.