Enhancing climber safety through hands-on education

Our Safe Climbing Initiative (SCI) is a skills‑based education program designed to enhance safety, competence, and confidence among the climbers of our community. Designed in conjunction with, and taught by, professional guides from Exum Mountain Guides and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, the SCI provides accessible, high-quality climbing education in the Teton County/Jackson Recreation Center Climbing Gym. The instruction helps climbers increase their technical and risk-management skills via affordable, professionally led classes.

Classes, which combine hands-on instruction with demonstrations and discussions, are capped at a 6:1 participant-to-instructor ratio to ensure quality. Registration fees are set at $25 per class and waived upon request, generating partial cost recovery while keeping access broad.

By raising the community’s base level of climbing knowledge, the SCI reduces preventable accidents, lessens demands on Teton County Search and Rescue and the Jenny Lake Rangers, and builds a safer, more inclusive climbing community.

• Three Progressive Blocks: SCI offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes, each consisting of three two-hour sessions. Each block is designed to build on foundational climbing skills, starting with basic techniques and moving toward advanced problem-solving for outdoor climbing.
• Expert Instruction: Classes are taught by certified guides from Exum Mountain Guides and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, ensuring high-quality instruction.
• Indoor and Outdoor Skills Focus: Sessions are hosted at the Teton County Recreation Center, in both the Cloudveil Room and the Climbing Gym. The indoor training focuses on developing techniques that prepare climbers for outdoor challenges.
• Inclusivity: A maximum class size of 18 participants and three guides ensures a 6:1 student-to-guide ratio, providing personalized attention.
• Flexible Format: Classes are standalone, so participants can attend any session without needing to have completed previous classes.

Financial assistance to cover the costs of both SCI classes and harness and shoe rentals is available upon request.

If you would like to request financial assistance, please email us at info@tetonclimbers.com and we would be happy to send you a discount code. 

All registrants must be Rec Center pass holders, bring their own harnesses, rock shoes and chalk bag, and have completed their lead belay test with the Teton County Recreation Center climbing gym before participating in the SCI. Harnesses and rock shoes are available to rent from the climbing gym.

SCI classes are open to everyone, whether you’re just getting started or already tackling advanced routes. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide which level is right for you:

• Beginner Series: If you have passed a lead belay test in the gym and are comfortable climbing indoors but haven’t yet ventured outside, this level is for you. Our beginner series will help you make the transition to outdoor climbing safely by teaching essential skills like lead belaying, placing draws, and cleaning anchors.
• Intermediate Series: You’ve been climbing outdoors on single-pitch routes and feel confident with basic safety practices. If you’re ready to take on more complex climbing situations, such as multi-pitch routes, our intermediate series will introduce you to anchor building, belaying off an anchor, and managing ropes in multi-pitch scenarios.
• Advanced Series: You’ve tackled multi-pitch climbs and want to learn how to problem-solve when things don’t go as planned. Our advanced series are designed for climbers who are ready to learn self-rescue techniques, hauling systems, and more technical climbing solutions.