Trad climbing Camalots and tricams hanging around a persons shoulder

Anchor Building

Anchor Building for Rock Climbing — Learn to Build Safe, Reliable Anchors

Mastering anchor building is one of the most essential and technical skills for climbers. In our Anchor Building for Rock Climbing course at Forged Guides, you’ll learn how to:

  • Place and evaluate gear objectively for solid protection

  • Equalize multiple anchor points using cordelettes, slings, and static ropes

  • Select and set a clear, secure master point

  • Construct anchors that protect both your partners and yourself

After classroom instruction, we’ll build real top-rope anchors together and climb on them to practice hands-on. This course is ideal for climbers aiming to progress into trad climbing and is a recommended prerequisite for our Intro to Trad Lead class. Suitable for all levels—come prepared to gain confidence and pick up the anchor skills that keep your team safe along the St. Croix River.

What to Expect During a Forged Guides Anchor Building Course

The Anchor Building Course is designed to help climbers break into trad climbing by teaching them how to confidently build and evaluate rock-climbing anchors. By the end of the course, students will have studied anchor theory, practiced anchor construction on real rock, and demonstrated the ability to scramble up formations and build safe anchors to climb on their own gear. We encourage students to bring their personal climbing equipment to practice with, but a full rack, ropes, carabiners, cordelette, static rope, and other trad essentials are provided for those who don’t yet own gear. This course is a very content-heavy offering, so previewing material —especially knot-tying, anchor terminology, and the ERNEST anchor system—will help you get the most from hands-on instruction. Small, private classes mean the curriculum is tailored to each group’s goals, whether you’re a complete beginner or refining advanced anchor skills. Expect focused, practical training on anchor selection, placement, redundancy, equalization, extension management, and load-sharing. Once you’re comfortable building trad anchors, we recommend progressing to Intro to Trad 1 & 2 to round out your trad skillset. Learn solid anchor-building technique along the scenic St. Croix River with our fun, local guides who make safety and good judgment the foundation of every climb.

Logistics

  • Location: Interstate Park, MN/WI, along the scenic St. Croix River.

  • Duration: Half-day and full-day options available.

  • Group sizes: Small groups for personalized coaching and safety.

  • Gear: We provide helmets, harnesses, ropes, and technical equipment; participants should bring, weather-appropriate clothing, water, snacks. and sunscreen/bug spray.

Climbing Anchor high above Interstate Park Minnesota

Curriculum Outline — Anchor Building (Interstate Park, MN/WI)

Rock Climbing Anchor & Gear Clinic — Course Outline

  1. Quick self-introductions: guide and all participants

  2. Gear overview and care: cams, nuts, extenders, locking & non‑locking carabiners, dynamic ropes, cordelette — cleaning, storage, retirement rules

  3. Knot practice: tie and inspect cordelette joins — figure‑eight, double fisherman’s, overhand; warn against flat figure‑eight and other capsizing knots

  4. Anchor fundamentals — ERNESA: Equalized, Redundant, No‑Extension, Strong, Angle (ideally ≤ 60° back from the master point)

  5. Gear placement principles (4‑point eval): assess rock quality, crack shape, % cammed, and full contact of all four cam lobes — demonstrate and discuss best practices

  6. Hands‑on gear practice: students place protection and evaluate each other using the 4‑point system; group review and feedback

  7. Cordelette systems & anchor types: build and compare 2‑ and 3‑piece equalized anchors; review ERNESA for pre‑equalized, self‑equalizing, quads, girth hitch, and when to use each

  8. Master point extension demo: safely extend with a static rope (ground‑school technique)

  9. Knot drill: practice the super‑eight for extension/backup uses, big honkin knot (BHK) for masterpoint knot, overhands, figure eights. What to look for as mistakes with knots as well.

  10. Ground anchor build: students construct a top‑rope anchor on the ground and get instructor feedback

  11. Real anchor build: students build a top‑rope anchor at the top of a route under supervision

  12. Climb & belay session: students climb and belay using their own top‑rope anchors to validate function and technique

  13. Focused Q&A and optional repeat build: dedicated time for questions and for students to build an additional anchor

Designed for all skill levels, this clinic emphasizes safe, repeatable anchor construction, proper gear selection and care, solid knotwork, and hands‑on practice so climbers leave confident in building and assessing top‑rope anchors.

Schedule your Forged Guides Trip here!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu

Feel free to reach out with any questions. Our Forged Guides team looks forward to climbing with you!

Climbing Anchor High above Devils Lake WI alongside a climbing helmet
Butterfly sitting on a climbing anchor

Know Before you Go - Interstate Park

Interstate State Park, straddling the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, boasts a captivating natural history. Shaped by glacial forces, the park showcases dramatic basalt cliffs, beautiful river views, and unique geological formations like the renowned glacial potholes. This ancient landscape supports diverse ecosystems, including old-growth forests, vibrant wetlands, and the scenic St. Croix River, offering opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, and exploring the region's rich geological past.