Advance your ice climbing prowess with our 'Intermediate Ice Climbing Seminar, tailored for those ready to build upon their foundational skills. Join Chris Snobeck for a full day seminar learning the skills need for intermediate ice. This is a FULL DAY SEMINAR that will run from 9:00-3:00pm
Learn tips and tricks for efficient climbing on longer routes.
Improve your knowledge in this skills course. Sponsored by Rocky Talkie
Improve your knowledge in this skills course. Learn from Santiago Vega - Sponsored by Mountain Equipment
Bump up your skills with Joey Thompson. This course will work on improving your skills on intermediate terrain and get you ready for some more advanced ice. Sponsored by RAB
New to the Ouray Ice Park? Want to meet some new climbing partners? Need a belay? Join us and warm up those climbing muscles before the Ouray Ice Fest gets rolling. This clinic is for anybody who wants to climb with a cool group of inclusive-minded folks. Beginner climbers (including TOTAL beginners) to advanced climbers (especially the mellow ones who don't want to climb with assholes) are welcome! If you are new to the sport, we’ll give you a rundown on equipment and techniques to set you up for success. If you are an experienced climber, we’ll collaborate with you to beef up your tool kit. Climb with Moxie!
Dive into the world of mixed climbing with Dan Hunter. Sponsored by Blue Ice. Take your skills to the next level and learn about the world of rock and ice
Ice climbing is much more technique dependent than rock climbing. Learn the skills properly in a full-day introduction to the sport of ice climbing. Warning: it’s addicting! By the end of the day you’ll be able to:
Climb a waterfall up to WI3 (don’t worry, we’ll also teach you what ice climbing grades mean!)
Have an understanding of some of the inherent risks of climbing ice and how to mitigate them
Properly belay in a top rope setting and efficiently communicate with your partner
Identify the ins and outs of ice climbing equipment, including proper fit and use
Tie a few basic knots to keep you connected to your partner—and the mountain!
Prerequisites:
None! This is an appropriate course for anyone who is interested in learning about ice climbing, or for climbers looking to refresh their skills for the coming season.
In this clinic we’ll approach graduation from being a competent ice climber on top rope to taking the first steps into learning how to lead an ice climb. In a mock lead scenario, we’ll follow the natural progression to safely and efficiently lead an ice climb. You’ll have a chance to learn from our guides:
Reading the ice and understanding its behavior
Leader’s movement on ice
Ice screws: correct placement, mechanics and limitations
Protection spacing
Ice screw anchor building and V, A & 0-threads
Top anchor belay
Lead belay and back ties
Prerequisites:
You must be an avid climber with proven experience on waterfall ice.
Some leading experience on rock (even at the rock gym) is a must.
Clear understanding of what “leading” means to prove readiness to move into it.
This clinic is not a “learn how to ice climb” clinic, although some instruction to improve your movement as to guarantee efficiency and safety as a leader will be provided.
Date: Saturday, January 25
Schedule: Half day clinic - meet at 13:00 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 16:00
Sponsor/Athlete: Vince Anderson with Scarpa
Prerequisites: Previous ice climbing experience is required, climbers should be comfortable toproping at least WI3/4
Cost: $200 per climber
Date: Friday, January 24
Schedule: Half day clinic - meet at 09:00 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 12:00
Sponsor/Athlete: Vince Anderson with Scarpa
Prerequisites: Previous ice climbing experience is required, climbers should be comfortable toproping at least WI3/4
Cost: $200 per climber
We provide a time-tested progression of ice climbing movement skills through decades of climbing instruction that will take your ice climbing to new heights.
Learn the best way to swing your tools, position your body, and balance on your feet to become a solid ice climber.
Our half-day of instruction will be spent practicing specific drills and receiving practical feedback from professional coaches/guides.
Our clinics will be instructed by a Cirque Guide and/or a sponsored athlete. Please meet us at the sponsor’s booth at the Ouray Ice Park. Plan on arriving 15 minutes early, ready with all your equipment, so we can leave for the ice climbing clinic at the start time.
We provide a time-tested progression of ice climbing movement skills through decades of climbing instruction that will take your ice climbing to new heights.
Learn the best way to swing your tools, position your body, and balance on your feet to become a solid ice climber.
Our half-day of instruction will be spent practicing specific drills and receiving practical feedback from professional coaches/guides.
Our clinics will be instructed by a Cirque Guide and/or a sponsored athlete. Please meet us at the sponsor’s booth at the Ouray Ice Park. Plan on arriving 15 minutes early, ready with all your equipment, so we can leave for the ice climbing clinic at the start time.
Date: Friday, January 24
Schedule: Full day seminar - meet at 09:30 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 15:30
Sponsor/Athlete: John Roskelley with Lowa
Prerequisites: Previous ice climbing experience is required, climbers should be comfortable toproping at least WI3/4
Cost: $300 per climber
We had the idea that maybe folks come to the Ouray Ice Fest to climb. Weird, right? For the 2025 Ouray Ice Fest, each day we will hang 4-6 ropes on routes in the Schoolroom. Our guides will coach, mentor, and generally be resources to support you with whatever aspect of ice climbing you’d like. The goal will be to create a supportive environment in which you can climb with highly skilled partners. We’ll check everyone off for belaying and we’ll ask you to belay when you’re not climbing, so our guides can help climbers on the ice.
Prerequisites:
Participants must have climbed ice previously and understand how to belay.
Date: Friday, January 24
Schedule: Full day seminar - meet at 09:30 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 15:30
Sponsor/Athlete: Micah Lewkowitz with Scarpa
Prerequisites: Previous ice climbing experience is required, climbers should be comfortable toproping at least WI3/4
Cost: $300 per climber
Join Anna Pfaff the celebrated alpinist, who has established numerous first ascents, like on the Great Trango Tower, or her all-female ascent of peak 5400. Fresh off a historic summit of Shishapangma, she’s the most motivating athlete to push your limits with!
This clinic is suited for participants with some ice climbing experience who would like to sharpen their skills on WI4 ice.
This seminar begins with ice climbing movement refresher and adds in technical skills like ice anchors, belaying from above, and v-threading.
Learn from celebrated high altitude mountaineer Carlos Buhler, who has established routes on Everest, Changabang, Ama Dablam, and more. Participants learn the basics of swinging, kicking, and hip movement while getting in a full day of climbing mileage.
