Certified Single Pitch Instructor

Terrain Description: Single Pitch Instructor

When Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) certification is an integral part of, or basis for, obtaining a permit to guide, Certified Single Pitch Instructors are required to operate only within the confines of the single pitch instructor certification and the terrain limitations applicable to that certification. AMGA guides are allowed to work outside of these limitations when their certification is not an integral requirement for acquiring a permit. Single Pitch Instructors supervise and teach climbing at any single pitch cliff, able to work both at the base and from the top of the climb. The instructor can work at sites where the anchors are accessed by either non-technical terrain or by leading. For the purpose of the SPI Program a single pitch climb is one which: • Is climbed without intermediate belays • Presents no difficulties on approach or retreat from the area, such as route finding, scrambling or navigating There are special considerations when the SPI leads to access anchors where there is only a technical (5th class) retreat. In a situation where the SPI is utilizing a top managed site in this setting they should only bring up then lower the climber back to the ground. The SPI should not bring multiple climbers up into this terrain, as this would require techniques out of the scope of the SPI Program.