Description
Multipitch ice climbing: Learn how to stay safe on bigger terrain
Overview:
Our upper level Multipitch Ice Climbing Course introduces participants to the safety systems and decision-making needed to venture out on bigger, more committing ice climbing terrain. This course involves participants in the preparation process before the course, dedicated ground work dialing in systems, as well as plenty of climbing and descending multipitch ice. 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 Multipitch Ice 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.
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- South Fork of the Shoshone River (WI3-6) – The South Fork is one of the most preeminent multipitch ice climbing venues in the country with a wide assortment of classic climbs that are perfectly suited for our Multipitch Ice Climbing Course. We highly recommend taking this course in the South Fork to take advantage of this incredible terrain.
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- Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River (WI3-5) – The Box of the Clarks Fork is home to several of the largest continuous ice flows in the region. This is a remote location with a difficult approach but the positioning and quality of climbing makes this an extremely rewarding venue for our Multipitch Ice Climbing Course.
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- Carter Mountain (WI3-5), Cody area – Carter Mountain is home to several classic ice climbs that are well suited to both our Intro, Intermediate, and Multipitch Ice Climbing Courses. Carter Mountain is also notable in that its season is one of the earliest in the country with waterfall ice consistently setting up by October.
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- Bomber Basin (WI2-4), Wind River Mountains – Bomber Basin is home to several moderate multipitch ice climbs of incredible quality in a beautiful backcountry setting. If you’re looking for a location in central Wyoming we highly recommend this venue for your Multipitch Ice Climbing Course.
Lessons:
Our Multipitch Ice Climbing courses include personalized instruction on the following topics and techniques:
- Trip planning and route selection
- Ice and mixed climbing safety, belay, and anchor systems
- Descent systems
- Ice climbing movement and techniques
- 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
Please inquire via email for a sample course guide and lesson plan.
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.
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- Dane Steadman
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- Zayne Hebbler
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- Zach Lentsch
Sample 2 day itinerary:
Friday evening:
- 6 pm: Meet for gear checks and safety orientation
Saturday:
- 7am: Drive to ice climbing area
- 8am: Start approach hike to the crag
- 8:30am: Gear up for multipitch ice climbing
- 9am: Route planning and hazard evaluation lesson 1
- 9:30am: Systems lesson 1
- 10am – 12pm: Multipitch ice climbing
- 12-12:30pm: Lunch break
- 12:30pm: Systems lesson 2
- 1-3:30pm: Multipitch ice 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 hazard evaluation lesson 2
- 9:30am: Means of egress lesson
- 10am – 12pm: Multipitch ice climbing
- 12-12:30pm: Lunch break
- 12:30pm: Self-rescue lesson
- 1-3:30pm: Multipitch descent scenario
- 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 | ||||
| 1 Day | $400 | $650 | ||||
| 2 Days | $700 | $1050 | ||||
Climber to Guide Ratio:
2:1, maximum 2 per course
Contact Us:
Have questions about our Multipitch Ice Climbing Course? Please contact us via the form below:
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