Classes / Sign-ups - The Stronghold Climbing Gym

classes & clinics

We offer a wide range of intro classes, clinics, and workshops on a regular basis. Begin your climbing journey–or take your existing skills to the next level–with the expert instructors at the Stronghold.

The Basics → Lead Climbing → Climbing Outdoors / Grade Progression & Fitness

Keep an eye out for our monthly newsletter (subscribe below) to be among the first to hear about new clinics and events. You can also check out our Events pages at Lincoln Heights / Echo Park to see all the community events going on at The Stronghold!

THE BASICS

Progression: Bouldering 101 → Bouldering 102 / Intro to Technique → Intro to Ropes

BOULDERING 101

In this 1-hour class, you will learn the fundamentals of bouldering, including movement technique, how to fall as safely as possible, spotting basics, climber etiquette, grading systems, and more!
No experience required.

Free for members / $40 for non-members.

BOULDERING 102

The next step after Bouldering 101! This 60-minute class is all about the techniques needed to move smoothly, efficiently, and powerfully on the wall. Recommended for beginners who have already taken Bouldering 101 or have equivalent experience. You must be 14 or older to take this class.
No experience required, but you must be 14 or older to take this class.

Free for members / $40 for non-members.

INTRO TO TECHNIQUE

Intro to Technique is the next step after our bouldering and belay classes. Learn about different holds, technique fundamentals, injury prevention strategies, climbing shoe fitting and usage, and more! Belay certification is recommended but not required.

You must be 14 or older to take this class.

Free for members / $55 for non-members.

INTRO TO ROPE CLIMBING

Learn the basics of top roping in the gym! This 90-minute class will prepare you for our top rope certification test. Learn the figure-eight climbing knot, partner safety checks, proper belay technique, and more.

No experience required, but you must be 14 or older to take this class.

Free for members / $45 for non-members.

LEAD CLIMBING

Progression: Intro to Lead → Lead II → Take the Fall: Fear Management

INTRO TO LEAD CLIMBING

The Stronghold’s Introduction to Lead Climbing class will help you make the heady transition to the sharp end! Lead climbing involves a good deal more risk-management than top-roping, and belaying the leader requires more skill. As such, you must be top-rope certified before taking this class, and you should feel very confident with both top-rope climbing and belaying.

We strongly recommend having at least three months of consistent top roping climbing/belaying experience before learning how to lead.

$45 for members / $90 for non-members.

LEAD CLIMBING II

Want to improve your lead climbing and belaying? Our Lead II class can help you strengthen your foundations and expand your skills. Topics include clipping alternatives, Gri Gri best practices, falling and catching practice, advanced belayer positioning, belaying without looking, taking slack quickly, mental game, and more.

This is not a refresher course; please take Intro to Lead again if you need a refresher of the basics.

$30 (members only)

TAKE THE FALL: FEAR MANAGEMENT CLINIC

Is fear holding you back in your lead climbing? Our Take the Fall clinic is back for you to get the beta you need to start sending your mental walls. Led by Dexter.

$35 (members only)

SKILLS FOR CLIMBING OUTDOORS

All classes & clinics under this category will be taught indoors at one of our facilities to help you safely transition from gym to crag!

Progression: Fast Track (12-Week Series) or One Concept at a Time: Anchors I & II → Rappelling → Cleaning → Multipitch I & II → Multipitch Tips & Tricks → Crack Climbing I & II → Trad I & II → Self-Rescue

FAST TRACK (12-WEEK SERIES)

Ready to brave the outdoors? This Fast Track 12-week clinic series will teach you the fundamentals of outdoor sport climbing, multi-pitch, trad, and self-rescue. Led by Bill.

Pre-requisite: You must be both top rope and lead-certified at The Stronghold

$325 (members only)

ANCHORS I & II

Ready to start climbing outdoors? Get hands-on practice with an experienced instructor first! In this two-hour class, your instructor will teach you the fundamentals and best practices of building anchors. Led by Bill.

Prerequisites: You must be top rope-certified at The Stronghold.

$50 (members only)

RAPPELLING 101

Learn basic rappelling, third-hand backups, fireman backups, rope tossing techniques, closing the system, and more! Led by Bill.

Prerequisites: You must be top rope-certified at The Stronghold.

$35 (members only)

CLEANING ANCHORS

This class will give you all the tools you need to safely and efficiently remove your gear from an anchor at the end of the day. Come learn these skills on the ground so that there is no question when it’s time to go outside. Led by Bill.

Prerequisites: You must be top lead-certified at The Stronghold.

$35 (members only)

MULTIPITCH I & II

This two-session course will teach you the basics of climbing multi-pitch routes, including belaying from above, setting up multi-pitch anchors, transitioning between pitches, and more.

Prerequisites: You should be lead-certified and should already have taken our anchor-building and rappelling clinics (or learned these skills elsewhere).

$50 (members only)

MULTIPITCH TIPS & TRICKS

This class will teach you those “guide tricks” that will help you have faster transitions, use your gear better, and ultimately get more climbing out of your day. Come learn some neat tricks you’ve probably never seen before. Prerequisites: You should have multipitch experience.

$70 (members only)

CRACK CLIMBING I & II

Our two-part Intro to Crack Climbing series is your ticket to a smooth transition into the world of trad climbing. Taught by Dave, these sessions will equip you with the foundational skills you’ll need to start climbing the cracks here at The Stronghold and–better yet–outdoors!

$45 (members only)

TRAD I & II

Learn the fundamentals of trad climbing with this two-part clinic. Participants should be experienced lead climbers and have some outdoor climbing experience.

$50 (members only)

SELF-RESCUE (6-WEEK SERIES)

A lot can go wrong in the mountains–maybe you drop your belay device, your partner gets injured, or your rope is damaged during rock fall. What do you do? This 6-week self-rescue series teaches the skills climbers need to get themselves out of emergency situations as safely as possible.

Prerequisites: top rope and lead certifications; experience with building anchors. Multipitch experience strongly recommended.

$175 (members only)

GRADE PROGRESSION

Done with the Basics? Take one of these: Blue Tag Skills, Yellow Tag Skills, Short Climber Beta, Weightlifting for Climbers, Intro to Hangboarding, Training & Conditioning Series, Yoga/Fitness Classes

BLUE TAG CLINIC

In this 2-hour class, your instructor will teach you the climbing techniques and drills you can use to send blue tag routes and problems. Recommended for V1 – V2 climbers.

$30 (members only)

YELLOW TAG CLINIC

Learn intermediate climbing techniques with this 2-hour clinic. Your instructor will walk you through climbing techniques in the bouldering area to get you climbing yellow tagged problems & routes. For V2 to V5 climbers

$30 (members only)

SHORT CLIMBER BETA

Tired of your tall friends telling you to just reach it? Good news–better beta exists! Learn tips and tricks from Chris Lange (5’1) during this two-hour clinic. Recommended for climbers projecting blue tags and harder.

$30 (members only)

WEIGHTLIFTING FOR CLIMBERS

This clinic is great for those climbers that are interested in cross training via weight training. Learn proper technique, form, and the best lifts that can help any climber improve.

$30 (members only)

INTRO TO HANGBOARDING

Having a hard time holding that crimp? Improve your finger strength with the original climbing training: hangboarding!

Recommended for intermediate and advanced climbers.

$30 (members only)

TRAINING & CONDITIONING SERIES W/ REN

This 4-week training and conditioning series is designed to break plateaus and accelerate progress toward your climbing goals. The series is best suited for the experienced beginner to advanced climber who is new to or has dabbled in climbing training and conditioning. Led by Ren.

$99 (members only)

MISC. CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

THAI MASSAGE CLASS

Thai yoga massage can be considered a mindful combination of yoga and massage. It is practiced on fully clothed people on padded mats, using the body weight of the giver rather than muscular strength. The workshop will include guided and demonstrated sequences, as well as safety, communication, and how to help your receiver feel at ease. All are welcome; no experience needed.

First-come, first-served. This is a partner practice; bring a friend.

Free for members / Day pass for non-members.

SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP

Learn how to defend against the most common types of assault in this 1-hour workshop.

Jasmine, founder of @fighttribela, has more than 9 years of experience in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Attendees will leave the workshop feeling safer, stronger, and empowered.

Free for members / $50 for non-members.

classes & clinics

THE BASICS

BOULDERING 101

BOULDERING 102

INTRO TO TECHNIQUE

INTRO TO ROPE CLIMBING

LEAD CLIMBING

INTRO TO LEAD CLIMBING

LEAD CLIMBING II

TAKE THE FALL: FEAR MANAGEMENT CLINIC

SKILLS FOR CLIMBING OUTDOORS

FAST TRACK (12-WEEK SERIES)

ANCHORS I & II

RAPPELLING 101

CLEANING ANCHORS

MULTIPITCH I & II

MULTIPITCH TIPS & TRICKS

CRACK CLIMBING I & II

TRAD I & II

SELF-RESCUE (6-WEEK SERIES)

GRADE PROGRESSION

BLUE TAG CLINIC

YELLOW TAG CLINIC

SHORT CLIMBER BETA

WEIGHTLIFTING FOR CLIMBERS

INTRO TO HANGBOARDING

TRAINING & CONDITIONING SERIES W/ REN

MISC. CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

THAI MASSAGE CLASS

SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP

HOURS OF OPERATION