This 3-day course is focused on giving participants the skills to become an independent party in a single pitch venue. Ice climbing movement skills are expanded from the Intro course into more difficult terrain up to WI4 to WI5.
Day: 1 We start a little early on the first day to make time for a backpack explosion and gear shake down. Next we travel up to the ice park and dive into anchors beginning with using a “anchor rope” to extend the master point. Most of the first day will be focused on movement review and building on skills from the Intro course.
Day: 2 Participants start the second day by setting up the anchor. The team will enter gorge via rappel, learning how to extend the device and use a friction hitch backup. The focus of the day is anchors. Throughout the day, you’ll switch climbs frequently to allow movement refinement on numerous climbs and the opportunity to get repetition building the anchor.
Day: 3 This day is focused on top managed belays. Aspects of lowering a climber in from the top of the climb and belaying them back us will be covered as well as simple mechanical advantage to raise if necessary.
Program Dates
December 26-28, 2020
January 16-18, 2021
February 24-26, 2021
Skills Covered
Place and remove ice and rock protection
Build a “trad” anchor (including use of anchor rope)
Directional protection
V threads
Configure plaquette for lower
Top belay w/ plaquette
3:1 haul
Throwing rope down
Rappel on an extension w/ backup
Review triangle and traversing movement
Progress movement to WI4
Incorporate placing screws on toprope
Details
Group Size
This is an open enrollment course. The maximum group size is 3.
Time and Place
This trip meets at the Peak Guide House at 311 Main Street in Ouray at 7:30am. Usually, this course runs in the Ouray Ice Park. It is possible for some courses to spend time outside of the park.
Peak Mountain Guides is an authorized permittee of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison National Forest; San Juan National Forest; Bureau of Land Management Monticello, Moab, Gunnison, and Glennallen Field Offices; Eldorado Canyon State Park; Ouray Ice Park, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks; and National Parks including Mt. Rainier, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Colorado National Monument. Peak Mountain Guides is an equal opportunity service provider.