AMGA Rock Instructor Course

AMGA Rock Instructor Course
The RIC is the standard course for all guides who will operate in multi-pitch terrain. It is also the base course for all those looking to continue down the guide certification path.

The RIC is a 10-day program that we offer with the AMGA. It provides climbing instructors with international level of necessary skills to train with and implement to become professional guides and work toward their certification.

Skills taught and developed during the Rock Instructor Course:
* Client orientation and preparation
* Equipment and protection selection
* Time and pace management
* Alternate descending techniques
* Improvised non-mechanical ascending
* Anchor construction
* Choosing appropriate belay methods and stances
* Multi-pitch station management
* Rappelling and lowering with clients
* Multiple client guiding
* Short roping and short pitching techniques
* Belay escapes
* Performing improvised ascending methods
* Raising systems for guiding
* Hazard recognition and risk management
* Guide’s notebook
* Improvised harnesses
* Guide’s pack
* Client care
* Emergency procedures
* Pedagogy
* Leave No Trace practices and techniques
* Review of Advanced Rock Guide Course and Aspirant Exam   assessment

This course can not be run privately, it must have at least two participants. You can also visit http://www.amga.com/programs/rock.php for more specific details. The rates for the RIC are specialty rates and are not listed on our Rates & Reservations page. For more information please contact us.

RIC Course Details:

RIC Course Candidate Pre-Requisites
You meet the pre-requisites for the SPI course if:
* You are a current Associate member of the AMGA.
* You have at least 5 years of rock climbing experience.
* Provide a personal climbing resume showing each of the following:
* That you have led or shared lead on at least 50 different multi-pitch    traditional routes,
     * 5 of which should be Grade III
     * 4 of which should be Grade IV or longer.
* That you have led at least 10 traditional routes rated 5.10a or harder on    various rock types.
* You can safely and comfortably lead crack and face climbs rated 5.10a    at the time of the course.
* You are familiar with basic knots, including: figure-8, bowline, clove    hitch, munter hitch, mule-hitch, prusik, double fisherman’s and    kleimheist.
* You are confident with placing traditional protection including: hexes,    stoppers, tri-cams, and SLCDs.
* You are comfortable using mechanical (more than two types of belay    devices including auto locking devices) and non-mechanical (hip belay)    belay methods.
* You are familiar with the use of plate type devices on multi-pitch    rappels.
* Provide copy of current basic first aid certification or better.
* You are at least 18 years of age.

For more information on the course, please visit the AMGA Rock Instructors Course web page.

RIC candidate belaying his climber up the first pitch of Arrow, Shawangunks, NY

Please view our Schedule to see our up-coming courses.