Ice Climbing Lessons
Ice Climbing Courses Taught in Ouray, Colorado and Canada
Ice climbing can be encountered in many mountain environments, a well developed and efficient climbing technique is crucial to getting to most of the worlds high summits. Suntoucher Mountain Guides is dedicated to quality instruction, our goal is to develop the necessary skills in all students to achieve individual goals. Whether that is developing the skills to climb summits like Mt. McKinley, Ama Dablam, and Mont Blanc or to become a skillful Water Ice leader. We take our students through an instructional progression customized to each and every student.
In recent years ice climbing has seen a revolution in tools (see:Grivel) and techniques that allows the climber to confidently and efficiently move through seemingly extreme terrain. The frozen waterfalls throughout North America offer some of the finest venues for learning the winter dance of modern ice climbing. Join Suntoucher Mountain Guides to develop and enhance your techniques in this modern era of ice climbing.
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Ice I - Intro to Waterfall Ice Climbing:
In this course we cover the fundamentals of crampon techniques and footwork, assessment of ice quality, equipment selection, ice axe placement, ice screw placement techniques, movement over terrain WI2 - 4, ice anchors and protection.
Ice II - Intermediate Waterfall Ice:
Review of basic skills covered in Intro to Water Ice Climbing, more advanced movement skills necessary to move efficiently in steeper more challenging terrain WI 4 - 5, skills necessary to second a pitch efficiently, screw placement for preparation to lead, fundamentals of leading.
Ice III/Mixed - Steep water ice and mixed climbing:
If the student displays the necessary skills and experience we progress to the more advanced course. In this course we offer a comprehensive leading seminar, refine current ice techniques, introduction to rock movement, and dry tooling or mixed climbing.
Climb like a Girl Ice - Women's Ice Climbing Clinics
Winter 2007/2008 dates Dec 28 - 30, Jan 18 - 20, Feb 22 - 24, 2008.
Our Locations
Ice courses are done small ratio only to ensure the quality of instruction and comfort of clients. Fees vary depending on location of course please call or email for more information.
Ice climbing courses are taught in Ouray, Colorado and in the Canadian Rockies. All courses are flexible in length and can be combined with guided ice ascents. Refer to guided trips for more information on guided ascents.
Ouray, Colorado
Ouray Colorado is a modern Mecca for winter waterfall climbing. The Uncompahgre gorge, located a few minutes from town is a unique area with over a hundred ice flows. The quick access and variety of climbing make the Ouray Ice Park one of the finest ice climbing venues in the world. Outside the ice park the San Juan Mountains offer some of the best back country water ice in the US. South mineral creek, Eureka, ice flows along highway 550, combined with many other routes provide an abundance of easily accessible ice like nowhere else in the lower 48, together with the great weather in the SW and the stunning beauty of the San Juans, this region of Colorado is a world class climbing destination.
Fees in Ouray: per person per day.
1:1 $325/day
2:1 $225per/day
3:1 $170per/day
Canadian Rockies:
March 3-8, 2008 Ice climbing seminar and classic climbs
Winter climbing in Canada is the ultimate in waterfall ice. The Rockies region of Alberta and British Columbia house some of the finest ice and mixed climbs in the world. The immense beauty and vastness of the terrain combine with the cold northern latitude and porous rock to create waterfalls of unrivaled quality and quantity. The mountain towns of Canmore and Banff serve as bases to the vast array of pillars, gullies, and curtains that form almost everywhere throughout the region. The variety of climbs range from roadside attractions of all difficultly levels to 3,000 ft climbs deep in the backcountry. Here one has the chance to swing tools for miles and truly develop efficient and effective ice climbing technique in one of the most spectacular mountain environments in the world. All trips are run by John Kear IFMGA licensed mountain guide.
Recommended Classics
-The Professor Falls WI4
A one hour flat approach leads to the base of this tiered six pitch classic.
-Louise Falls WI 4-5
Located near the back of the stunningly beautiful Lake Louise lies three pitches of nearly perfect ice.
-The Weeping Wall WI 3-5+
One of the most impressive ice flows on the planet, the weeping wall is a vertical football field of ice only 10 mins from the road. Combined with the Upper Weeping Wall or a number of other variations The Weeping Wall offers over a thousand feet of steep and fat ice.
-This House of Sky WI 3
A moderate gem with nearly a dozen pitches of cruising on fun and interesting terrain deep in the heart of the Ghost River region.-Polar Circus WI 5
1500 ft of world class ice climbing in a spectacular location, Polar Circus is not to be missed when visiting the Canadian Rockies.
Canada fees: per person per day
1:1 $425/day
2:1 $275per/day
All Canadian programs are operated as a direct private arrangement between John Kear, IFMGA licensed Mountain Guide and the guest. Due to specific regulations in Canada, guides are required to do business as individuals not part of a company.
Call or email for upcoming trips
and for more information.
Email: Climb@suntoucher.com
(505) 400-5590