New to ice climbing? Let’s get you oriented! Join us for a day in the Ice Park to learn how to do the dang thing. We’ll go over equipment, belaying, anchors, and climbing. This clinic is aimed at beginners, dabblers, or people looking to get back into it after a long hiatus. We’re nice, we’re fun, and we already think you are cool. Climb with Moxie (;
Ice climbing is much more technique dependent than rock climbing. Learn the skills properly in a full-day introduction to the sport of ice climbing. Warning: it’s addicting! By the end of the day you’ll be able to:
Climb a waterfall up to WI3 (don’t worry, we’ll also teach you what ice climbing grades mean!)
Have an understanding of some of the inherent risks of climbing ice and how to mitigate them
Properly belay in a top rope setting and efficiently communicate with your partner
Identify the ins and outs of ice climbing equipment, including proper fit and use
Tie a few basic knots to keep you connected to your partner—and the mountain!
Prerequisites:
None! This is an appropriate course for anyone who is interested in learning about ice climbing, or for climbers looking to refresh their skills for the coming season.
Date: Wednesday, January 22
Schedule: Full day seminar - meet at 07:30 at Ouray Ice Park and finish at 15:30
Goals: This clinic is an introduction to mixed climbing and drytooling. We follow a progression of difficulty and introduce techniques to maintain control and a “quiet body”. Climbers will learn how to assess mixed climbing routes, strategize techniques, climb efficiently on rock with crampons and ice tools and transition between rock and ice.
Prerequisites: None
Ratio: Small group for customized instruction, maximum of 4 climbers with 1 guide
Cost: $330 per climber
Learn or review the basics of self-rescue like hauling, ascending, load transfers.
Single and multi-pitch ice climbs in the skylight area. Suitable for beginner to intermediate level ice climbers.
2:1 guided multi-pitch ice climb in Ouray. Suitable for those climbing WI4-5.
Learn to climb progressively steeper ice with efficiency and confidence. Terrain difficulty will be on routes in the WI 4/5 range.
Learn the fundamentals of ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. Suitable for beginners.
This clinic is for climbers who have climbed ice and are looking to progress on steeper terrain. Building on the foundational skills needed to move up moderate ice, we’ll teach more advanced movement techniques and positions with the goal of helping you confidently climb WI3+ to WI4 smoothly and effortlessly by:
Mastering foot placements, tool swings, and everything that happens in between with your body
Having adequate sequences of movement execution
Learning positions of rest and tricks to avoid getting “pumped”
Finding proper positions of balance
Reading the ice and choosing the right path
Prerequisites:
Participants must have previous experience ice climbing, preferably in the last year. (If you climbed once five years ago, we highly encourage you to take our Intro to Ice Movement clinic—it will be more fun and you will progress faster.)
