ASCEND climbing classes operate on a first come first serve basis, so be sure to register by booking online using the calendar below (or by downloading the RGPro Connect app), calling in, or stopping by the front desk. Remember: you can always just drop in and climb any time ASCEND is open without a reservation or signing up for a class! Not interested in taking a class? Don't worry, you can use the climbing and fitness areas anytime ASCEND is open without a reservation or signing up for a class, but only if you were taught how to share. See each offering for cancellation policy.
ASCEND offers a wide range of climbing classes to help you achieve your goals through proven tactics. These technique and skill focused classes are designed to take your climbing to the next level and teach and reinforce proper systems for improving your safety knowledge.
Boulder Basics (Beginners)
Brand new to bouldering? Still need some pointers? Go beyond our walkthrough with a guided bouldering session. Spend an hour with a climbing coach and get started on the right track.
Price: $25 per participant
Notes:
There is maximum of 4 or 5 people per class, depending on which location. First come, first served.
Want to learn how to top-rope belay? This introductory course will teach you how to tie your knots and how to belay, so you, your friends, and your family can enjoy roped climbing together.
Duration: Tuesdays from 6p-7p*
Price: $25 per participant
Notes:
There is maximum of 6 people per class. First come, first served.
A 4-week session designed to introduce a brand-new climber to the indoor adaptation of the sport. An instructor will cover climbing technique, lingo, bouldering, top-roping, belaying, training for climbing, and more! While anyone is welcome to join, this broad, introductory course was developed with beginner climbers in mind to give them the confidence needed to have fun, be safe, and make friends in the facility. Participants must be 14 years or older. Interested in Youth Climbing 101? Click HERE.
Duration: Sessions start on the first Wednesday of each month, 6p-8p (attending all classes is strongly recommended).
Price: $179 guests | $119 members
Included:
Four, 2-hour sessions of small group instruction.
Membership for the calendar month the sessions are held.
A 4-week session designed to sharpen your technique. An instructor will guide participants through a range of climbing skills, including static vs dynamic movement, climbing on slabs vs overhangs, footwork, & projecting! While anyone is welcome to join, this course will be most beneficial to those who have been climbing 6 months or more.
Duration: Sessions Start on the first Monday of each month. 6p-8p (attending all classes is strongly recommended)
Price: $179 guests | $119 members
Included:
Four, 2-hour sessions of small group instruction
Membership for the calendar month the sessions are held
Sport Climbing 1: Indoor Sport Climbing (Intermediate)
Learn the basics of leading and lead belaying. Students will focus on lead belaying with an ATC, how to properly clip quickdraws, and how to take lead falls. Note: Leading on ASCEND's top-rope wall is not allowed outside of this class.
Goals: To provide introductory information, hands on practice, and lead climbing confidence.
Duration: Offered monthly on select Saturdays or Sundays
In addition to reviewing all topics in Sport Climbing 1, students will be introduced to lead belaying with a GRIGRI, cleaning, lowering, and common sport climbing anchors. Note: Leading on ASCEND's top-rope wall is not allowed outside of this class.
Goals: To prepare students for outdoor sport climbing.
Duration: Offered monthly on select Saturdays or Sundays
ASCEND is SO PSYCHED to introduce you all to climbing in the great outdoors. After all, that's where this whole climbing thing originated, so let us show you the ropes and our roots.
ALL ASCEND outdoor programming includes a 20% coupon on your ASCEND account, which is valid for climbing gear (ropes, harnesses, climbing shoes, carabiners, packs, etc.), but not for things like t-shirts, swag, or concession items). It's good for one purchase (not one item), so you can get as much climbing gear on this one purchase as you'd like.
2021 Schedule + Locations See below for class descriptions + registration links.
April 3 - Outdoor Climbing 0B: Intro to Outdoor Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
April 10 - Outdoor Climbing 2: Top Rope Anchors - McConnells Mill, PA
April 17 - Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
April 24 - Outdoor Climbing 3: Intro to Multipitch Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
May 1 - LGBTQ+ Outdoor Climbing Trip - Coopers Rock, WV
May 8 - Outdoor Climbing 6: Intro to Trad Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
May 15 - Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
May 22 - Outdoor Climbing 3: Intro to Multipitch Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
June 5 - Outdoor Climbing 0B: Intro to Outdoor Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
June 12 - Outdoor Climbing 2: Top Rope Anchors - McConnells Mill, PA
July 24 - Outdoor Climbing OY: Climbing + Yoga - Cooper Rock, WV
July 25 - Outdoor Climbing 3: Intro to Multipitch Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
August 14 - Outdoor Climbing 2: Top Rope Anchors - McConnells Mill, PA
August 21 Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
September 11 - Women’s Outdoor Climbing Trip - Coopers Rock, WV
September 18 - Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
September 18 - Outdoor Climbing 3: Intro to Multipitch Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
October 9 - Outdoor Climbing OY: Climbing + Yoga - Cooper Rock, WV
October 9 - Outdoor Climbing 2: Top Rope Anchors - Coopers Rock, WV
October 16 - Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing - Seldom Seen Greenway, PGH, PA
October 16 - Outdoor Climbing 7: Intro to Rescue Techniques for Climbers - Inside ASCEND Pittsburgh
October 30 - Outdoor Climbing 6: Intro to Trad Climbing - Coopers Rock, WV
November 7 - Outdoor Climbing 9: Know Your Bolts + Hardware - Inside ASCEND Pittsburgh
November 20 - Outdoor Climbing 11: Intro to Crack Climbing - Inside ASCEND Pittsburgh
*Trips are always scheduled for a Saturday and the immediate Sunday is the weather make-up day for any given trip. Participants should be available for both days in case a trip is moved to a Sunday, and are aware that they will not be refunded 100% if they cannot make the Sunday date. This schedule is subject to change… including locations, which may change the week of the trip depending on weather.
*ASCEND members are eligible for a discounted rate at Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides. Groups of two or more visiting for at least two consecutive weekdays receive 10% their guiding rates!
Outdoor Climbing 0A: Fourth Class Climbing
Not all climbing is vertical, and the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is perfect evidence of that. YDS difficulty rating for hiking and climbing begins with Class 1 terrain and increases incrementally to Fifth Class terrain, which is the vertical climbing we are most accustomed to. Fourth Class terrain still involves climbing, but is usually of less consequence and less physical demand than typical climbing; this type of climbing is often referred to as “scrambling.” Join us at Coopers Rock State Forest for an approximately four mile hike involving occasional rappelling, climbing, and scrambling. Customers will not be required to have any past experience with roped climbing, nor possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Guides will review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
Curious about outdoor climbing, but not sure where to start? This introductory trip to outdoor climbing will answer any and all questions you might have about roped climbing outside. Join us for a review of common types of introductory outdoor climbing, with our highly-experienced, certified guides. Customers will not be required to have any past experience with roped climbing, nor possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. This trip is designed for anyone with interest in outdoor recreation and a desire for physical activity. Guides will also review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
ASCEND is pleased to offer outdoor climbing parties! Coopers Rock State Forest features drive-up picnic areas, directly adjacent to top rope and bouldering climbing areas, providing a perfect landscape for your next climbers’ celebration. Our outdoor party package includes enough guides for belaying/instruction of your party’s climbers, as well as a few basic party necessities, like paper products, garbage bags, first aid kits, and more. We can even setup a slackline with advanced request! Participants must be 14 or older and all minors must have a guardian present. Food, drink, and/or decorations are not provided, any/all alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited, and all outdoor climbing parties are subject to additional terms and conditions related to refunds, weather, rescheduling, and cancellation. Optional photography drone service available at additional cost. Contact us now for more information!
Yoga and climbing are naturally synergistic, and there are few better settings for bringing together mind and body than the great outdoors. Join ASCEND for a combination of climbing and instructor-led yoga! Yoga and hiking will take place from 9-11a, lunch from 11-11:30a, and then climbing until 3p, during which a variety of popular climbs will be setup for you to use while our guides monitor you, your belayer, and the equipment being used. ASCEND will provide all equipment for the top rope setups, so you will not need to bring any ropes or rigging materials. ASCEND will NOT provide any belayers, so you must have an ASCEND green belay tag prior to signing up for this trip. You are encouraged to sign up with a belay partner to ensure you are able to belay/be belayed for the climbs, however you can also belay/be belayed by others signed up for the trip as well; a perfect way to make friends with a new belay partner!
Top Roping is one of the most common forms of outdoor climbing, and our introductory trip can help prepare you for taking your roped climbing to the next level. Join us for this introductory trip in which our guides will review all of the basics related to outdoor top roping, such as belaying, rappelling, anchor building, and climbing. Customers will not be required to have any past experience with roped climbing, nor possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Customers are recommended to feel comfortable climbing at approximately a V2 (bouldering) or 5.7 (autobelay) difficulty, in the gym. Guides will review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
Building anchors for outdoor climbing can be overwhelming. Among numerous gear options, it can also be hard to determine exactly how to build something safe, efficient, and practical for use in outdoor top roping. Join our guides for a deep-dive to the finer details of building and rigging outdoor climbing anchors. Common topics include relevant knots/hitches/bends, monolithic anchors, multipoint anchors, tree anchors, rock anchors, trad gear anchors, bolted anchors, and so much more. Customers will not be required to have any past experience with roped climbing, nor possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Please note that this trip does not focus on top rope climbing as much as it focuses on top rope anchors; if you’re more interested in climbing, see our companion top roping trip, Intro. to Outdoor Top Roping.
Eager to climb higher than you have before? Multipitch climbing is often the next step for climbers looking for even more vertical terrain, and with Seneca Rocks so close, it’s a discipline worth learning! Join us for this introductory trip designed to teach customers how to become a competent follower in a multipitch environment. Becoming a competent leader begins with being a confident follower, and our guides are ready to help you achieve your goals. Customers are recommended to have past experience with roped climbing, such as top roping or single pitch sport climbing. Customers will not be required to possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Customers are recommended to feel comfortable climbing at approximately a V2 (bouldering) or 5.7 (top rope/autobelay) difficulty, in the gym. Guides will review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
Outdoor Climbing 4: Intro to Single Pitch Sport Climbing
Pittsburgh is undoubtedly one of the best cities to live in for single pitch sport climbing on the east coast. Not only does the city boast urban sport climbing, but also only requires a three hour drive to The New River Gorge in West Virginia and only requires a six hour road trip to The Red River Gorge in Kentucky. With two of the country’s best sport climbing destinations within a day’s drive, ASCEND is happy to offer an introductory trip to outdoor, single-pitch sport climbing. Our guides have sport climbed around the country and are ready to offer their experience so as to help you expand your own practice. Customers are recommended to have past experience with top roped climbing. Customers will not be required to possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Customers are recommended to feel comfortable climbing at approximately a V2 (bouldering) or 5.7 (top rope/autobelay) difficulty, in the gym. Guides will review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
ASCEND may be the best indoor bouldering available in Pittsburgh, but there’s a near-limitless amount of outdoor bouldering in our region as well. From Coopers Rock, to McConnells Mills, to The Allegheny National Forest, or even a daytrip away to the New River Gorge; Pittsburgh offers a lifetime supply of outdoor bouldering. Join us on this introductory outdoor trip, where we’ll review the most basic aspects of outdoor bouldering. Customers will not be required to have any past experience with outdoor climbing, nor possess any bouldering pads (though you can bring your own if you want); ASCEND will provide all required gear. Customers are recommended to feel comfortable climbing at approximately a V2 (bouldering) difficulty, in the gym. Guides will also review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
Trad Climbing is certainly one of the more daunting climbing disciplines to begin learning, and the process of becoming a competent trad. climber takes years. Join ASCEND’s highly experienced guides for an introduction to Trad. Climbing and the skills required to summit some of the most classic climbing routes in the world. Common topics include anchor building, lead belaying and belaying from above, leading in blocks versus swapping leads, rappelling, and placement/removal of trad. protection (i.e. nuts/stoppers, hexes, cams, tricams etc.). Customers are recommended to have past experience with top roped climbing such as top roping or sport climbing. Customers will not be required to possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear. Guides will review general principles of outdoor climbing, such as Leave No Trace, safety, history, climbing gear, and regional wildlife tips.
Outdoor Climbing 7: Intro to Rescue Techniques for Climbers
Outdoor climbing has experienced an incredible increase in the number of climbers in recent years, leading to an increasing number of accidents and reports. ASCEND is committed to the comprehensive practice of outdoor climbing of which rescue techniques are pivotal. Join ASCEND’s experienced outdoor climbing guides for an indoor introduction to the most high-yield rescue techniques for single-pitch rock climbers and belayers. This workshop will take place indoors at ASCEND South Side and will include topics such as: hauling systems, escaping the belay, and pertinent self-rescue during climbing or rappelling. Customers are recommended to have past experience with top roped climbing such as top roping or sport climbing. Customers will not be required to possess any climbing gear for roped climbing; ASCEND will provide all required gear.
Outdoor climbing commonly makes use of permanently installed hardware, such as bolts or “glue-in” anchors. Understanding how these anchors are installed, how they function, and how to inspect them for safe use are important parts of a comprehensive outdoor climbing practice. Join an experienced climbing hardware installation expert at ASCEND Southside for a workshop all about bolts! The workshop will take place indoors using real rock samples, and a variety of anchor installations, as well as a demonstration of installation of a glue-in anchor.
Students will learn common climbing expansion/wedge/mechanical bolts, hangers, glue-in anchors, and common hardware. Students will also learn how to assess climbing hardware after it has been installed for safety, as well as manufacturer’s recommended usage.
Before technology existed to easily bolt routes, most climbs were protected by placing “traditional” protection (such as cams and nuts) to clip rope into. This type of climbing requires cracks for the protection, and so historically, climbing routes follow crack systems. Crack climbing varies from the “face” climbing that we’re used to - instead of pulling down on small edges or jugs, we’re shaping our fingers, hands, and feet to wedge within the walls of a crack creating friction that allows us to make upward progress. Success in crack climbing is more dependent on technique and endurance than on outright strength (finger or otherwise).
Join ASCEND for a workshop specifically designed to introduce climbers to crack climbing. Our experienced instructor will review warmup strategies, core concepts, crack sizes, and applications of technique. The workshop will take place indoors, on ASCEND’s indoor crack climbing system, designed and made by Pittsburgh woodworker supply company, Urban Tree.
ASCEND is proud to work towards providing a more equitable landscape for climbers of any and all types. Join us for an all-women’s trip in support of each other and in celebration of the incredible women pushing climbing forward.
ASCEND is proud to work towards providing a more equitable landscape for climbers of any and all types. Join us for our annual LGBTQ+ trip in support of each other, as we review a variety of climbing topics in a highly-inclusive environment.
Looking for something that's not listed above or prefer to roll with your own crew? Have little to no experience and just want to get outside for an all-inclusive day of climbing? Scout troop that needs climbing merit badges? We got you!
As a space that fosters community & belonging, our goal is to provide accessible climbing for people of all abilities. While anyone is welcome to come to the facility at any time (including your service dog), we'd be happy to schedule you with a staff member to make sure you get the most out of your visit to ASCEND. We also host adaptive community events! See below for more.
If you're interested in volunteering, would like to inquire about a special event, or have any additional questions, please email [email protected].
Competitions
Climbing comps? Yep - they're a thing that we host, so keep your eye out for the next Steel Town Throw Down! Head on over to our EVENT BLOG to learn more about what's coming up and what's history.
Private Coaching
Personal Training at ASCEND includes everything from classic fitness training to climbing coaching, all designed for YOU in a 1-on-1 or small group setting. Whether you'd like to send V10, get in shape for epic hikes, or recover from/prevent injury, we got you. Meet with a trainer, discuss your goals, and be on your way to your next challenge. Pricing will vary depending on your needs and how many people you have. And don't forget that EFT members receive one complimentary consult.
Learn the fundamentals of routesetting in this immersive clinic. Perfect for aspiring setters, home wall enthusiasts, or anyone who is interested in the craft.
