Beginning Ice Climbing Clinics

Description

Overview:

Ice climbing is an incredible way to challenge yourself to new heights and explore the wintry wilds of Wyoming.  Our Cody-based Beginning Ice Climbing Clinics are perfect if you want to try the sport for the first time under the tutelage of our professional ice climbing guides in a supportive group environment.  You will learn the fundamentals of ice climbing equipment and layering for winter climbing, how to minimize the hazards involved with ice climbing, and how to climb waterfall ice as safely as possible.  You will also have a lot of fun learning a new set of skills and hopefully make a new group of friends along the way!

Our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinics are geared for new ice climbers and are open to all regardless of background and previous climbing experience.  We do recommend that participants are in good hiking shape as ice climbing has similar muscular demands to hiking on steep trails.  That said, ice climbing is one of the more accessible forms of climbing because it relies more on technique than physical strength – and that’s where we come in!  Even after one day working with our guides you will have a good grasp of basic ice climbing techniques and have plenty of opportunities to put those into practice on enjoyable moderate ice climbs.

Curriculum:

Our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinics include lessons on the following topics:

• Gearing up for ice climbing
• Clothing layering systems for ice climbing
• Finding and approaching ice climbs
• Mitigating objective hazards
• Belaying and rope skills
• Ice climbing techniques including kicking with crampons, swinging ice tools, and body positioning
• Climbing efficiency with an emphasis on pacing and resting
• Descent systems including lowering and rappelling

These lessons are accompanied by lots of toprope climbing on the ice!

Dates and Locations:

• December 6, 2025: Carter Mountain

Carter Mountain is an excellent early season ice climbing venue southwest of Cody with a good selection of moderate climbs in a spectacular alpine setting.  Our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinic will take place at Curtains (WI3, 30m), a classic climb with a short approach (~15 minutes).  Read more about ice climbing on Carter Mountain here.

• January  17, 2026: Pilot Creek near Cooke City

Pilot Creek, at the foot of majestic Pilot Peak, is a beautiful ice climbing area home to several accessible ice climbing crags.  Our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinic will take place at Blue (WI4) and Brown (WI3), two classic moderates located next to each other with a 30 minute approach.  Read more about ice climbing at Pilot Creek here.

• February 21, 2026: Five Springs Falls 

Five Springs near Lovell is one of the most accessible and impressive ice crags in the region with two towering cascades of ice less than quarter mile from the trailhead.  Our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinic will take place at the moderate Five Springs Falls (WI3, 40m) with a very short (~10 min) approach).  Read more about ice climbing at Five Springs here.

Rates and terms of payment:

$175 per person.   We require a 50% deposit at signup and the remaining balance two weeks prior to the program.  The deposit is non-refundable and the remaining balance is non-refundable in case of cancellation within two weeks of the program.

Equipment:

We provide the following technical ice climbing equipment at no extra charge:

• Ice tools – CAMP X-Dream
• Crampons – CAMP Blade Runner and Alpinist Pro
• Helmets
• Harnesses
• Mountaineering boots
• Belay devices
• All ropes, ice screws, and anchor material
• Climbing packs

We do not provide the following personal equipment:

• Thin wool socks
• Long underwear/base layers
• Soft or hardshell pants (tight fitting is best)
• Fleece midlayer
• Waterproof shell
• Belay puffy
• Gloves (thin for climbing, thick for belaying)
• Balaclava
• Lunch and snacks
• 2l of fluid (hot drinks are best)
• Sunglasses
• WAG bag

Clinic guides:

Our talented team of ice climbing guides includes some of the most prolific ice climbers in the region who are at the forefront of ice climbing development in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  Most importantly our guides are skilled teachers who are patient, kind, and helpful to people from all walks of life as they learn new skills.  Their top priority is making you feel safe and supported as you take on a new challenge.  Feel free to request a particular guide for your course.

• Dane Steadman – Dane Steadman is a skilled multi-disciplinary guide with significant accomplishments including the first guided ascents of Pilot Peak and Stinkingwater Peak, guided ascents of Cloud Peak, Gannet Peak, Granite Peak (MT), guided ice climbs in the Cody area up to WI6 in difficulty, and aguided rock climbs across the state of Wyoming up to 5.12 in difficulty.  Dane is also a very driven and talented climber whose main focus is exploratory alpine climbing both in Wyoming and in the greater ranges.  Notable climbs of his include the first ascent of Technicolor Super Dream on Mt. Huntington in Alaska, the first ascent of the North Face of Pik Alpinist in Kyrgyzstan, the second ascent of Titanic on Torre Egger in Patagonia, and several first ascents of hard ice and mixed climbs in the South Fork of the Shoshone River Valley up to WI6+ and M10 in difficulty.  What’s more, Dane is incredibly personable, patient, professional, and really fun to be around in the mountains. 

• Zach Lentsch – Zach Lentsch is an avid climber, guide, and owner of Wyoming Mountain Guides. A Bighorn Basin native, Zach has been exploring wild parts of northern Wyoming for as long as he can remember. In addition to running the business and designing Wyoming Mountain Guides’ suite of climbing programs operating across the state, Zach works extensively in the field and guides a wide range of trips ranging from introductory programs to advanced rock, ice, and alpine trips on challenging terrain. Zach is also a passionate developer of new climbing routes with over 100 first ascents across Wyoming, including the longest ice climb in the state (Ultralight Beam WI3+ 1000m) in the Wind River Mountains, the longest sandstone rock climb in the state (The Fall of Satan 5.10 C3 250m) in the Bighorn Mountains, and a high concentration of rock, ice, and mixed climbs in the Cody area up to 5.12, WI6, and M9 in difficulty.  Zach is an experienced teacher and works hard to integrate as much technical and environmental education into the climbing experience as possible while also prioritizing safety and having a great time together.

• Andrew Lamb – Andrew Lamb is rock and ice climbing instructor, experienced alpinist, and competitive ice climber from Worland, WY.  Andrew has instructed rock and ice climbing programs in Bozeman since 2022 and has recently relocated to the Cody area.  Some of his proudest ascents include the Japanese Couloir on Alaska’s Mt. Barrill, Winter Dance and the Nutcracker in Hyalite Canyon, and significant solos throughout the Greater Yellowstone.  He is also a talented competitive dry tooler who competed with the US National Ice Climbing Team.  He considers his greatest strength as a guide is his “attitude of positivity and optimism for all the aspects of the mountains, whether that be the hauling, the patience and respect for clients, the teaching of technical skills or the grit needed to work through tough situations environmentally, physically or emotionally.”

Contact us:

Have questions about our Beginning Ice Climbing Clinic?  Send us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!