INTRODUCTION TO ICE
Course Duration
2 Days
Course Dates
Saturday/Sunday
- December 2-3, 2023
- January 6-7, 2024
- February 3-4, 2024
- March 2-3, 2024
Don’t see course dates to match your schedule? Book a Private Course for any dates!
Want more climbing? Add a Multi-Pitch Bonus Day day after your course (See Bonus Day Details Below)
Cost
$495 for 2-day course (no extra costs)
Includes
- Professional guiding and instruction
- All technical equipment (ice tools, boots, crampons, helmet, and harness)
Ratio
5:1 (max of 10 participants, 2 guides)
Note: With 10 participants, we will have two 5:1 climbing teams
MINIMUM ENROLLMENT: 3 climbers
Don’t see course dates that work for you?
Visit our calendar to check out our other courses!
With world-class ice climbing cliffs less than a fifteen-minute walk from the parking areas, this climbing course will maximize your time amidst the vertical! Our Introduction to Ice Climbing Course takes place at two different venues – Ousel Falls outside of Big Sky on Day 1, and Hyalite Canyon outside of Bozeman on Day 2. Our experienced ice climbing guides customize all ice climbing instruction to each individual’s climbing abilities and experience levels. Ice climbing technique is our focal point, and you will be learning from the pros – then putting the climbing lessons into action! Each day will be filled with continual feedback, instruction, and as much climbing as possible! Participants will walk away from our 2-day Introduction to Ice Climbing course with a solid ice climbing foundation – including the safety, knowledge, skills, and techniques needed to enjoy the wild and wonderful sport of ice climbing.
SKILL CHECKLIST:
- Ability to identify ice climbing equipment, properly don and check harness, helmet, boots, and crampons.
- Belay communications.
- Climbing knots and hitches: Figure 8 Follow-through, Double Fisherman’s, Prussic, Munter, Clove Hitch, and Water Knot.
- Proper top rope anchor placement and setup.
- Rappel setup and techniques with friction devices.
- Ice climbing technique up to WI4 with coaching.
MAG ice guides are composed of some of the most experienced climbing guides in The Rockies, with years of teaching and guiding in Hyalite Canyon and elsewhere. We love to pass our ice climbing knowledge on to new eager ice climbers. No experience is necessary for this course, which is why we are here!
BONUS DAY ICE CLIMB:
Interested in using your newly established skillset to explore classic routes in Hyalite Canyon or to get on your first multi-pitch ice route? Maximize your time with a “Bonus Day Ice Climb.” Groups of 2 or more students from the course booking together will receive a 10% discount! We think you will impress yourself at what you will be able to climb! Contact our office to book.
Day 1
7:00 am at Montana Alpine Guides
- Meet your guide at the MAG office (4055 Valley Commons Drive, Suite F-5 in Bozeman).
- Fit gear and fill out necessary paperwork.
- Caravan to Ousel Falls.
- Welcome, introduction, aspiration, goals, agenda.
- Knots, harnesses, and ropes.
- Set crampons to boots and check harnesses.
- Discussion of safety procedures.
- Basic ice climbing movement – foot work with crampons and ice tool placements.
- Basic belay techniques and belay commands.
- Learn about anchors, lowering, rappelling.
- Top-rope climbs at Ousel Falls and practice your skills while being coached by the pros!
- Debrief of the Day 1 and depart climbing venue at 3:30-4:30 pm.
Day 2
7:00 am at Montana Alpine Guides
- Meet your guide at the MAG office (4055 Valley Commons Drive, Suite F-4 in Bozeman).
- Caravan to Hyalite Canyon.
- Review of skills from Day 1.
- Warm-up climb and techniques to stay warm while ice climbing.
- Introduction to steep ice climbing techniques and the pyramid technique.
- Climbing with instruction/coaching on steeper climbs. With proper technique you will quickly progress in the ice climbing grades.
- Introduction to ice screw placements and other protection options.
- Practice “seconding” a “lead” ice climber, cleaning gear from a good stance.
- Return to the MAG office at 3:30-4:30 pm.
- Debrief of trip, return gear, grab a MAG hoody or shirt.
Dates: Dec. 13, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, March 13
Cost: Private Rates
Ratio: 2:1 (minimum of 2 participants)
Put your new skills to use for a great day on a private guided climb. Available to those who have completed the course – pair up with another course participant to get the 2:1 rate on a day of guided climbing! On this day we head up to one of the multi-pitch (several rope lengths in height) climbs in Hyalite.
Please see our Ice Climbing Equipment List for the required equipment for this trip. Technical equipment (ice climbing boots, crampons, ice tools, helmet, and harness) are included in the cost and can be provided. This must be coordinated in advance (especially boot sizes!)