School of Rock is MITOC's rock climbing mentor session dedicated to getting climbers outside on real rock.
SoR will have two tracks, sport climbing and trad climbing. The sport track is for climbers learning to lead bolted sport climbs, and the trad track is for those who want to follow and lead trad (traditional gear protected) climbs. Both tracks will focus on developing technical competencies and mentor-mentee relationships through a series of weeknight technical review sessions and three weekend trips; you should plan to attend all of these. Please mark dates you can/can't make in your application and update us if your availability changes.
Please fill out the following application so that we can gauge which types of trips are most appropriate for you.
Important dates:
- Application opens: Apr 2
- Application closes: May 6 11:59pm
- Responses by: ~May 12
- Confirmation of participation and fees paid: May 15
- TRS (technical review sessions): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm to ~9pm: May 28/30, June 4/6, 11/13. Trad additionally June 18, optional social for everyone June 20.
- Weekend trips: June 1/2, June 8/9, June 15/16, trad reunion/open cabin June 22/23
- Our selection process prioritizes MIT students, those that can commit to all or a majority of weekends and TRSs (this is important as the skills build on each other), and the goal of creating a diverse climbing community and climbing leader pipeline within MITOC.
- Unfortunately, we cannot accept everyone that applies. We do our very best to accommodate as many folks as possible, but we typically receive 5x the number of applications as we have spots.
- If you are accepted, you will need to have an active MITOC membership and to sign the MITOC trips waiver.
A Note About Grades
Climbing grades are often overused as a mark of capability and we don't overemphasize them in our program. We prefer to think in terms of skills climbers can develop: physical capabilities, such as the ability to pull a certain move or move quickly over terrain; technical skills, such as proper belay technique, safe gear placements, or competency in self-rescue; and mental capacities, such as being able to accurately assess objective hazards or know when to push or back off of a route. However, grades provide a useful measure to get a quick idea of where someone is at in their climbing progression, especially for beginners. In this application when we ask about what grade you climb, we are asking at which grade can you climb a route without rests from top to bottom on your first try without falling or hanging on the rope (onsight / flash).
How should I decide which track to apply for?
- Sport track: you have been climbing in the gym or outside for some time, and often try climbs in the 5.8 to 5.11 range on top-rope. You should be comfortable top rope belaying, and may have started lead belaying or lead climbing in the gym. You are looking to learn how to lead climb and set up and tear down two-bolt anchors. Participants in this track will gain the technical skills to safely lead and clean sport routes.
- Trad Track: you have been climbing outside for some time on sport, typically at least one full season. You already know how to lead climb and lead belay confidently. You may be leading sport routes in the 10s or harder outside, or can onsight climbs in the 5.7-5.9 range for 45-60 minutes while holding stances to place gear. Participants in this track will gain exposure to placing gear, building anchors, and following multipitch climbs.
In short, we encourage applications from folks of all levels of experience! We're most interested in your stoke and building a wide community of climbers.
DISCLAIMERS:
MITOC is not a guiding service, and this program are not led by certified instructors. Mentors in this program are members of the MITOC community who are volunteering to share their experience and knowledge with the rest of the community.
