Intermediate Ice Course

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.

2021 dates not yet available

• 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

Group Size

This is an open enrollment course. The maximum group size is 3.

Time and Place

This trip meets at our office at 480 Main Street in Ouray at 7:30am. Usually, this course runs in the Ouray Ice Park. It is possible on some courses to spend time outside of the park.

Equipment List

All the technical climbing equipment required for this outing is included.
View Equipment List as a PDF