Rock Expedition students gain hands-on experience developing routes in Skaha Bluffs.
Second-year Adventure Studies students in ADVG 2990: Expedition 1 took their classroom learning to the crag Oct. 25 and 26, heading to Skaha Bluffs near Penticton for their mini rock expedition.
Led by faculty member Fred Amyot and sessional instructor Russ Turner, the group spent two full days cleaning, bolting and maintaining climbing routes—gaining firsthand experience in the technical and environmental work that keeps climbing areas safe and sustainable.
“We learned how to bolt, set and clean routes safely,” the students shared. “It was a great hands-on experience working on real rock and seeing what goes into building and maintaining climbing routes.”
A weekend in the Bluffs
The group met early Saturday morning at Skaha Bluffs to go over the weekend’s objectives and collect essential gear before getting to work. Much of the first day was spent scrubbing and brushing walls, removing loose debris and preparing the rock for new routes.
After a full day of cleaning, the team gathered for a group meal to debrief, discuss progress and plan the next steps. Sunday focused on bolting and placement, with students working in pairs to practice safe technique and communication.
Thanks to support from the Adventure Studies Department, the group had access to all necessary materials—including bolts, hangars, drill bits, chains and brushes.
Growth on and off the rock
By the end of the weekend, students had completed two of five routes, top-roped and cleaned them, and have planned to return later in the semester to finish bolting the remaining lines.
Beyond technical skills such as cleaning, trundling, scrubbing, brushing, bolting and tool use, the trip emphasized teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
“We had to coordinate tasks, watch out for each other’s safety and solve problems together,” they said. “There was positivity, humour and friendly teasing, which helped build rapport and keep morale high.”
Real-world learning in action
The mini expedition gave students a realistic look into the work of professional guides and route developers—connecting directly to their career pathways in outdoor guiding and adventure operations.
“We did this to gain real-world experience in route development, understand what goes into maintaining climbing areas and build practical guiding skills that connect to our training and future careers,” the students explained.
You can watch their full mini expedition recap here: Bolting Mini Exped
Photos by Logan Steel and Frias Al-Mohammad, Adventure Studies diploma students
