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.
level up your mixed climbing with Joey Thompson. Sponsored by RAB. Take your skills to the next level and learn about the world of rock and ice
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: 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
Build a solid foundation of movement skills.
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.
Go beyond the basics and develop the skills it takes to climb steep ice!
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: Wednesday, January 22
Schedule: Full day seminar - meet at 07:30 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 15:30
Goals: This clinic is an introduction to mixed climbing and drytooling. We follow a progression of difficulty and introduce techniques to maintain control and a “quiet body”. Climbers will learn how to assess mixed climbing routes, strategize techniques, climb efficiently on rock with crampons and ice tools and transition between rock and ice.
Prerequisites: None
Ratio: Small group for customized instruction, maximum of 4 climbers with 1 guide
Cost: $330 per climber
Date: Thursday, January 23
Schedule: Full day seminar - meet at 07:30 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 15:30
Goals: This clinic is curated for ice climbers who want to learn unique and creative techniques for climbing steep routes and pillars. Our instructors use customized coaching to help climbers learn how to use body positioning to strategically mitigate the pump factor and relying purely on arm strength.
Prerequisites: Previous ice climbing experience is required, climbers should feel comfortable toproping at least WI3/4
Ratio: Small group for customized instruction, maximum of 4 climbers with 1 guide
Cost: $330 per climber
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
This clinic is suited for participants with some ice climbing experience who would like to sharpen their skills on WI4 ice.
This clinic shows aspiring adventure photographers how to create anchors, jug fixed lines and more.
This clinic is suited for participants with some ice climbing experience who would like to sharpen their skills on WI4 ice.
This clinic is suited for participants with some ice climbing experience who would like mileage on ice while also learning about where and how to place ice protection.
This clinic is designed for those curious about the skills needed for alpine objectives. The clinic covers the basics of ice and mixed climbing movement and ice and alpine anchors.
This clinic is designed for beginner climbers/ice climbers. Participants will learn the basics of swinging, kicking, and hip movement.
Taught by one of the mountain guides in the film premiering at Ice Fest, “Ephemeral.” This clinic focuses when not to use the triangle technique and emphasizes efficiency of movement.
This clinic is designed for beginner climbers/ice climbers. Participants will learn the basics of swinging, kicking, and hip movement.