Yosemite Rock Climbing Trips
Professional Climbing Guides Institute
- PCGI
- Top-Rope Guide
- Single-Pitch Guide
- Multi-Pitch Guide
- Rescue
- Calendar
Top Rope Training
The Top-Rope 
Guide Training (TRGT) is designed as a introductory level top rope rock climbing guide training. It is exclusive of complex climbing, approach and descent environments. The training does not encompass guiding in glaciated environments. The TRGT is specifically developed to primarily address the most widely implemented type of top rope guiding, commonly referred to as "bottom managed". The training does encompass implementation of top managed techniques as commonly needed to safely conduct the guided top rope rock climbing experience and achieve any clients given top rope rock climbing goals.
A primary goal of this training is to provide a forum of open ideas while presenting practical top rope guiding skill standards. The TRGT will consist of technical, hands-on top rope rock climbing guide training. The training days will consist of: discussion of common guide concerns, instructor demonstrations of common guiding techniques and skills, and most importantly, participant practice of the guiding skills presented. No lead climbing is done during the TRGT.
- TRGC - Prerequisites:
- 1) Prior top rope climbing experience, comfortable with top roping 5.7 climbs.
- 2) Prior knowledge of, experience with and ability to build top rope anchor systems using traditional climbing gear, i.e. stoppers, cams, etc.
- 3) Own and bring appropriate gear/rack for building top rope anchors, including cams, stoppers, hexes, and static anchor lines.
- 4) Top rope climbing experience of at least two years.
- 5) Working knowledge of the following knots and hitches:
- a. Clove hitch
- b. Munter hitch
- c. Figure eight and overhand on bite
- d. Friction hitches
- e. Figure eight follow through
- f. Bowline
- g. Double figure eight and overhand
- h. Double fisherman
Note: Prerequisites are required and your mentors will take these seriously. It is up to the individual mentors, but anyone who cannot demonstrate mastery of the prerequisites may be told to leave the course with no refund.