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Introduction to Ice Climbing
$515
Dates
- January 15-16 | February 5-6 | February 23-24 | Custom Programs available at anytime. Contact us to book some climbing!
Ice climbing has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the last few years. We are lucky to have ideal locations to learn and practice the skills of this fun activity in our own backyard.
Ice is a scarce commodity in sunny California. Two places that stand out in contrast are June Lake and Lee Vining, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, near Mammoth Lakes.
June Lake is the ideal location to start learning ice climbing and often we end up spending both days of the course here. A brisk uphill walk leads to the ice; this can take as long as an hour depending on snow conditions. The ice at this training area is up to a rope length high and up to eighty degrees in steepness, with steeper bulges, giving a perfect location to work on the basic movement skills.
After a day at June Lake, our progression continues onto the steeper ice, working on skills necessary to succeed on the steep stuff, as well as anchoring and other aspects of ice climbing.
**Note: Ice climbing is very dependent on conditions and weather. We are planning to run this course as planned, but we will be paying attention to the ice conditions as the course dates approach and will communicate if anything changes.**
Acclimatization & Physical Training
For proper acclimatization, we suggest spending at least one night at a moderate altitude, higher than 8,000 feet, just prior to the start of the journey. See our detailed tips on acclimatizing and physical training in the “Resources” tab.
Day 1
- Equipment design and selection
- Ice axe and crampon usage
- Front pointing skills
- American and French technique
- Practice, practice, practice…
Day 2
- Climbing ice from 50 degree to vertical and beyond
- Ice screw placement
- Equipment: placing and removing ice screws, anchoring on ice
- Threaded holes and bollards
- Route selection and safe climbing
- Practice, practice, practice….
- Where to go next
Rental Equipment
We have rental equipment available at checkout.
Reviews
Amanda, Snow Travel Skills Course
“I took SMC’s Snow Travel Skills course and their 3-day Mt. Whitney’s Mountaineer’s Route trip. The course was detailed and the instructor included a lot of practice time and feedback, plus helpful gear and planning trips. The course allowed me to feel confident about safely completing the Mountaineer’s Route.”
More Reviews
Jaime, River Crossing Skills
“Completed the River Crossing Skills course with Sierra Mountain Center this June, Larry was a great teacher! I learned so many valuable skills in one day, and I’m confident that I can now size up a river crossing to determine my suitability/safety as well as the proper way to get both myself and work with others to get across! Thanks SMC and Larry for a great day!”
Amanda, Intro to Mountaineering & More
“I have done a few trainings with Sierra Mountain Center and I highly recommend them as a training source for all your adventures. Last year I did their river crossing and a mountaineering basic course. I recently completed the mini mountain camp and I had the best time. I learned so much! My guide was Anouk and she was so badass. She taught me so much! I had a blast and I can’t wait to take my mountaineering to the next level. I will definitely use SMC as a future training source.”
Kaz, Winter Mountaineering Skills
“The four-day winter mountaineering course was everything I hoped it would be and more. I nabbed a spot just a week before the trip and Emma, the office manager, was super helpful in coordinating logistics and rental gear for me on short notice. Our first day was spent rock climbing in mountain boots; the second day was spent ice climbing; and the third and fourth days were spent backcountry camping and making a successful winter ascent of Crystal Crag. There were so many memorable moments throughout those four days that is hard to lick just a few to share but I’ll never forget snowshoeing across a frozen lake and climbing 4th class terrain in wind and snow. Our guides—Paloma, Dakota, and Tyler—were incredible throughout the trip and I’d gladly follow any one of them up a mountain again. They provided us with quality instruction in the field and good times back at camp. The guide team also did a great job adjusting the course to suit people of various ages, skill levels, and interests. In short, I had a lot of fun, learned a lot along the way, and believe the course was worth every penny. Thanks, SMC!”
James, Snow Travel Skills Course
“Thoroughly enjoyed their “Snow Travel Skills” course this past Sunday with Larry. He was an excellent instructor who gave us practical experiential opportunities to utilized these skill sets, equipment and increased our confidence in doing so. He was generous in answering our various questions and setting up the slope so we could practice safely what he was teaching us. I look forward to taking the river crossing course in the future as I add to my tools in doing the JMT at some point in my life, and until then, enjoying the wilderness with greater safety. Emma was also incredibly helpful in answering questions, reserving the equipment necessary and even offering recommendations to camp before/after the training.”
Lauren, Snow Travel Skills & River Crossing Skills Course
“Thoroughly enjoyed their “Snow Travel Skills” course this past Sunday with Larry. He was an excellent instructor who gave us practical experiential opportunities to utilized these skill sets, equipment and increased our confidence in doing so. He was generous in answering our various questions and setting up the slope so we could practice safely what he was teaching us. I look forward to taking the river crossing course in the future as I add to my tools in doing the JMT at some point in my life, and until then, enjoying the wilderness with greater safety. Emma was also incredibly helpful in answering questions, reserving the equipment necessary and even offering recommendations to camp before/after the training.”
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