SINGLE PITCH INSTRUCTOR (SPI)

UTAH and IDAHO SPI COURSES

High in the alpine

Kamps Ridge (5.6) on Mt. Olympus soars

Outdoor Classroom

Teaching points on the ground before implementing them.

On Belay!

Learning the ropes keeps us safe

Flawless Little Cottonwood stone

Getting into the business on the Fin Arete (5.10b)

Placing gear

An essential skill on LIttle Cottonwood granite

Big Cottonwood Quartzite

And another evening in paradise.

Uber classic

Routes like Becky's Wall (5.7) have seen generations of happy climbers

Slabbing up

Through the crux we go. Tingey's Terror (5.7)

Little Cottonwood Limestone

Your ticket to high elevation climbing to cool off during the heat of summer

Alpine times

The South Ridge of Mt. Superior (5.5) is a long classic of the Wasatch Alpine

Gearing up

Proper preparation sets us up for success

Leading out on fine granite

A skill that requires care and attention

Finger crack

On the illustrious Sasquatch (5.9+)

SPI Course
Moab, UT

3 Days

April 24-26, October 10-12

From:

$650

Apply Today

SPI Course SLC, UT (Uinta Mtns)

3 Days

June 20-22

From:

$650

Apply Today

SPI Course City of Rocks, ID

3 Days

May 2-4, September 27-29

From:

$650

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SPI Course Salt Lake City, UT

3 Days

September 19-21

From:

$650

Apply Today

The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor program is the widely accepted standard for individuals looking to start guiding or leading basic rock climbing activities in the United States and abroad. Individuals must apply for entry into the three day SPI course and, at a later date, complete the SPI Exam to attain certification. More can be learned about the program through the AMGA.

The SPI program provides a robust background for the safe leading and instructing of climbs in a single pitch environment and how to deal with a variety of problems including rescue should climbs not go according to plan.

Backcountry Pros hosts SPI courses around Salt Lake City, Moab, the Uinta Mountains and in City of Rocks, ID.

AMGA SPI Program

Topics Include:

It significantly improves the instructor’s skill sets and integrates into the next level of training, which includes the AMGA Rock Guide Course and the Multi-Pitch Instructor certification.
The program is for current, active rock climbers who have a real desire to teach rock climbing to novices in a single pitch setting.
The SPI Course is a 27-hour training course that normally runs as three consecutive nine-hour days or day classes with evening sessions.
The SPI Exam is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period.
Certification lasts for three years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First Aid Certification.
After three years current SPI’s can re-take the SPI Assessment to regain the SPI certification.
Successfully completing or passing any higher level AMGA Course also re-certifies the SPI certification for another three years.

Prerequisites:

You are a Professional Member of the AMGA.
You have a genuine interest in rock climbing and instructing novices on single pitch crags.
You are at least 18 years old at the time of the course.
You have at least 12 months prior climbing experience.
You are an active climber with traditional lead climbing experience (leader placing pro).
You have led a minimum of 15 traditional rock climbing routes (any grade).
You are capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 while on a top rope.