Description
Learn to Climb Mixed Terrain!
Overview:
This upper level course introduces participants to climbing mixed rock and ice as well as dry tool routes. The curriculum of this course focuses predominantly on movement and techniques for mixed climbing but also covers route selection, grading systems, protection strategies, and hazard evaluation, and safety systems. The course also includes as much practice as possible toprope climbing on classic mixed and dry tool climbs. We highly recommend taking our introductory and intermediate ice climbing courses prior to enrolling in this advanced course, as the climbing is considerably more demanding and requires a solid foundation of safety systems and base of climbing fitness.
Dates:
Our Mixed Climbing Courses are available December 2021 – March 2022 upon request. Please use our email contact form below or give us a call to arrange dates for your course.
NOTE: All of our ice climbing courses are privately arranged for individual parties – we do not mix groups of strangers for our courses unless specifically requested to do so. Our lower cost ice climbing clinics are larger group events scheduled for specific dates that are open to anyone who signs up for the clinic.
Recommended course locations:
We are fortunate to have access to several incredible ice climbing venues for our Steep Ice Climbing Course. When selecting a location for this course, it is important to consider not just the quality of ice climbing but also ease of access, good distribution of moderate grades, lack of crowds, minimal objective hazards, and stunning natural beauty. Each of the following venues is an excellent ice climbing classroom – which location we end up choosing will depend on your specific objectives, climbing experience, party size, and preferences regarding the kind of ice climbing you want to experience. You can learn more about the these and other areas we guide at our Ice Climbing Areas page.
-
- Ishawooa Mesa and Boulder Ridge Areas (M4-8), South Fork of the Shoshone – The South Fork is home to several classic bolted and traditional mixed climbs that are extremely rewarding. From roadside dry tooling to sporty roofs to multipitch trad mixed lines, the South Fork has several excellent venues for our Mixed Climbing Course.
-
- Central Gorge (M4-6), Shell Canyon – The Central Gorge of Shell Canyon is home to the best traditional mixed rock and ice climbs in the Bighorn Mountains. Easy access, moderate grades, and quality granite that protects well with natural gear makes this one of our preferred venues for our Mixed Climbing Course.
Lessons:
Our Mixed Climbing Course includes personalized instruction on the following topics and techniques:
- Ice and mixed climbing safety systems
- Route planning
- Hazard evaluation
- Protection strategies
- Mixed climbing movement and techniques
- Practice toproping mixed and dry tool climbs
- Minimal-impact ice climbing strategies to safeguard resources and heritage
- Leave No Trace and “Beyond Leave No Trace” practices
- Lessons the area’s geology, ecology, archaeology, and history
Course guides:
Our talented team of ice climbing guides includes some of the most talented ice climbers in the region who are at the forefront of ice climbing development in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. More 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 as well.
-
- Dane Steadman
-
- Zayne Hebbler
-
- Zach Lentsch
Sample 2 day itinerary:
Saturday:
- 7am: Meet and drive to ice climbing area
- 8am: Start approach hike to the crag
- 8:30am: Gear up for climbing as guides set up climbs
- 9am: Review safety systems and hazard evaluation
- 9:30am: Dry tool movement lesson
- 10am – 12pm: Toprope dry tooling
- 12-12:30pm: Lunch break
- 12:30pm: Mixed ice movement lesson
- 1-3:30pm: Toprope mixed climbing
- 3:30pm: Hike out
- 4pm: Debrief
Sunday:
- 7am: Drive to ice climbing area
- 8am: Start approach hike to the crag
- 8:30am: Gear up for mixed climbing as guides set up climbs
- 9am: Route selection and mixed route conditions lesson
- 9:30am: Mixed ice climbing movement lesson
- 10am – 12pm: Toprope mixed ice climbing
- 12-12:30pm: Lunch break
- 12:30pm: Protection strategies lesson
- 1-3:30pm: Toprope mixed ice climbing
- 3:30pm: Hike out
- 4pm: Debrief
Meeting location:
For all of our ice and mixed climbing courses, we prefer to meet the night before the course for equipment rentals and safety orientation at Sunlight Sports in Cody WY.
Rates
| Size of Party | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1 Day | $375 | $550 | $650 | $775 | $850 | $950 |
| 2 Days | $625 | $850 | $1000 | $1150 | $1300 | $1425 |
Contact Us:
Have questions about our Steep Ice Course or want to book a course? Please contact us via the form below:
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.