Ice Intro
Experience the dance on frozen waterfalls! With two technical ice axes in each hand and a pair of crampons on your feet, work your way up the icy formations. You will get introduced to the basic techniques of ice climbing. Prior rock climbing experience is helpful but not necessary. Half or full day
Ice Advanced
Hone your skills and broaden your knowledge - climb steep ice and challenging mixed terrain while learning the nuts and bolts. Learn efficient climbing techniques, the use of artificial and natural protection, create anchor systems for belays and rappels, hazard assessment and risk management. One or two days
Ice Intense
A truly intense experience, this multi-day course will give you a deep insight on ice climbing. Topics covered depend on interest and skill level of participants and may include an ascent of one of Colorado's classic ice climbs. For the novice and intermediate ice climber. Two to four days
Ouray Ice Park
A fantastic place to go ice climbing! Ouray, near the famed ski resort of Telluride, features the world's first man-made ice climbing park located in the beautiful Box Canyon just outside this scenic town. This two day course offers ideal conditions for the novice and intermediate to practice the techniques of ice and mixed climbing. Two days
ICE CLIMBING
Ice climbing- a dance on frozen water- is a unique and exhilarating mountain adventure. Lines of cascading ice like ribbons of silver edge into the mountains' rocky walls. Ice axes become handholds, crampons turn into footholds while climbing over bizarre looking icy bulges, pillars and curtains.
Ice climbing movements are similar to those on rock, but what's even more intriguing about climbing ice, is the ever changing nature of it. Alpinists, often climbing steep and complex mixed terrain, hone their ice climbing skills in preparation of bigger routes in the high mountains. The sport has seen an explosion in skills and possibilities largely due to an ongoing revolution in gear improvements. We at Alpine World Ascents have kept up with this trend and are excited to share our cutting edge expertise with you. We are dedicated to help climbers of all levels progress their skills and take pride in delivering well thought-out, hands-on ice climbing courses. As part of our philosophy to build strong, safe and independent climbers, we teach hazard assessment and risk management skills on all our courses.
All our ice climbing courses are currently offered by private arrangement only, November through March. While the various courses focus on a specific theme, working with a group of likeminded people allows us to adjust to the dynamics of the group creating a much more effective learning environment. Not finding what you're looking for? Want to combine topics from various courses? In addition to our theme focused courses listed below, we are happy to design a fully customized ice climbing course. You choose the date, location and participants as well as length of the course and we will create a personalized curriculum to meet your specific needs.
Professional Guides - Personal Experience
All our ice climbing courses are taught exclusively by AMGA trained/certified guides! Small group sizes 1:4 max.
While we typically offer our ice climbing courses in the greater Front Range, we are also able to organize them throughout Colorado (including Ouray Ice Park) and Wyoming. Please contact us to discuss the location of you course. Pricing: 1 person $390, plus $80 per additional person (Note: Pricing varies depending on location due to differing commercial permit arrangements and trip costs). Please contact us for more information or to sign up.
Intro to Ice Climbing
A good ice climber moves effortlessly - indeed, brute force will not get you far. This intro course starts with a review of proper clothing and gear and throughout, we'll provide tips and tricks of staying warm. The main focus is on balanced body positioning, efficient foot work and precise tool placements to turn novice ice slayers into efficient and beautiful ice climbers. Minimum 1 full day (price includes harness, helmet, axes, crampons). No pre-requisites needed. December - March.
Intermediate Ice
For those with basic ice climbing experience, this course is designed to improve your existing skills and introduce new ones, provide the knowledge for safe toproping and add elements of multi pitch and alpine climbing. Advanced topics include placing ice screws, building equalized anchors, dry tooling, belay methods, effective communication and following a lead climber. Minimum 1 full day (price includes harness, helmet, axes, crampons). Pre-requisites: previous ice climbing experience. November - March.
Mixed Climbing
Mixed climbing has emerged as the ulitmate skill set for ice and alpine climbers. Climbers use crampons and ice axes on rock in a manner referred to as "dry tooling techniques", a skill set that opens up amazing possibilities for routes thought previously unclimable. This course focuses on these techniques for climbing thin ice and mixed terrain. Minimum 1 full day (price includes harness, helmet, axes, crampons, rock & ice protection). Pre-requisites: previous ice climbing experience (rock climbing experience is an advantage). November - March.
Learn to Lead
By now, you're serious about ice climbing and you want tackle the ice flows and mixed routes ground up "on the sharp end" and even get on alpine climbs. This fun and insightful course teaches all the necessary skills to be an efficient, competent and resourceful lead ice climber through hands-on drills, effective progressions and personalized feedback. Minimum 1 full day (price includes harness, helmet, axes, crampons, rock & ice protection). Pre-requisites: strong intermediate ice climbing experience. November - March.