Steep Ice Skills

This ice climbing program offers participants the opportunity to experience a wide variety of steep ice formations, including mushrooms, bulges, cauliflower, candlesticks, chandeliers, pillars, curtains, smears, and flows. Climbers will encounter brittle, punky, blue, and yellow ice, providing a unique challenge that requires imagination, skill, and experience to move efficiently and confidently. The program emphasizes proper technique, including establishing resting positions, placing and removing ice protection, using ice axe leashes correctly, and integrating rock climbing movements into ice climbing strategies. This combination of skills allows participants to build competence and confidence on complex terrain while gaining a deeper understanding of how to approach different types of ice.

The course can be taken as a one or two-day program, depending on the participant’s goals and availability. Part of the program includes top rope climbing to focus on technique and efficiency in a controlled setting. Additionally, participants will attempt a steep multi-pitch climb to apply their skills in a more advanced and challenging context. This comprehensive program is designed to improve technical ability, enhance safety awareness, and provide an exhilarating experience on steep and varied ice formations. Guided instruction from experienced ice climbing professionals ensures participants receive personalized coaching, practical tips, and safety guidance, making the program suitable for those looking to advance their ice climbing skills while enjoying the beauty and challenge of winter climbing environments.