2019-2020 Ice Climbing Season Recap

This season we were fortunate to work with a large cadre of new ice climbers and enjoyed a long and relatively mild winter in the Bighorn Basin.  Here’s a quick snapshot of our season by the numbers:

• Days guiding on ice: 28

• Vertical feet of ice climbed by our clients: Approximately 16875

• Coldest temperature: -8F

• Warmest temperature: 49F

• Youngest ice climber: 13 years old

• Other ice climbers crowded out of a climb by us: 0

• Accidents or close calls: 0

• Number of elk sheds found on approaches: Top secret info, can’t say 😉

By far the most rewarding part of this ice climbing season was seeing so many folks progress from square one to becoming skilled and passionate ice climbers.  We were also psyched to see how people who took part in our programs began to connect and start climbing together, fostering a new sense of community across the state and beyond.  We are looking forward to seeing where their ice climbing journey takes them in the future!

NOTE: Due to public health concerns we will not be guiding any more ice climbing courses this spring. The crisis of COVID-19 presents major difficulties for all of us, not least of which organizations like our own that depend on seasonal tourism and the wider service sector. That said we are more fortunate than most because April-May is typically our slowest season. We’re still taking inquiries for upcoming seasons, however, and we hope you all stay healthy and hopeful during these trying times!