Ice Climbing - All Programs
Group and Private Courses, Guided Ice Climbing, and Custom Trips
AAI offers a variety of ice climbing courses and guided ice climbing for individuals and groups, from beginner to expert. Programs include both alpine ice and waterfall ice. Locations include Washington state, British Columbia, California, and Colorado.
Ice Climbing - All Programs
Group and Private Courses, Guided Ice Climbing, and Custom Trips
High on the North Ridge of Mt. Baker. Alasdair TurnerThe first course offered by AAI in 1975, this intensive program provides thorough instruction in all the skills required on difficult alpine ice climbs. Through this curriculum, you will develop a complete repertoire of state-of-the-art high-angle snow and ice climbing skills and learn to apply them efficiently in all conditions. All of this instruction is located in America's top glacier training area, the Coleman Glacier of Mt. Baker.
- Location:North Cascades, WA
- Season:May - August
- Length:6 Days
- Cost:$1995
Rope teams using two-tool technique as they near the exit of the V-Notch Couloir. Michael PowersAlpine ice persists year-round in many shaded couloirs and gullies in the high Sierra. This terrain is the perfect outdoor classrooms for teaching alpine ice climbing, one of the fundamental skills of mountaineering.
This course will prepare you for any alpine ice you would encounter in the Sierras and give you a solid base for climbing on larger glaciers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
- Location:Eastern Sierra Nevada, California
- Season:Spring – Fall
- Length:Flexible
- Cost:Contact AAI Office for more details
A climber follows a pitch on Chouinard Falls, Lee Vining Canyon, CA. Ian McEleneyThe introductory course will teach new ice climbers the basics of ice climbing, crampons, ice tools, ice screws, belaying, knots and top-rope climbing techniques - all the basics required to be a competent top-roping ice climbing partner. The intermediate course will cover ice climbing techniques on steeper ground and gain the skills to follow and lead ice climbs in a multi-pitch setting.
- Location:Colorado and California
- Season:January - March
- Length:2-day Intro Course / 5-day Intermediate Course
- Cost:$650 for Intro Course / $1495 for Intermediate Course
Some stunning ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park, CO. Suzanna LourieWith immediate proximity to town and hundreds of routes to learn and train on, there is no better place to learn or explore ice climbing than the Ouray Ice Park and the San Juan backcountry of the Rocky Mountains.
- Location:Ouray, Colorado
- Season:December through April
- Length:One day and up
- Cost:$525/day for 1:1; lower rates for larger parties
Climbing perfect ice in Lee Vining Canyon. Ian McEleneyAccessible from Sacramento, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, Lee Vining Canyon and the June Lake area in the Eastern Sierra provides some of the finest steep water ice climbing in North America. The Canyon is an excellent place to learn to climb, advance your skills, push into multi-pitch terrain, or combine all of these things into one highly educational, customized course.
- Location:Lee Vining Canyon, Eastern Sierra, CA
- Season:December - Early March
- Length:1 day and up
- Cost:Varies with program
A climber enjoying mixed terrain on Chair Peak, WA. Alasdair TurnerWashington is home to a great variety of ice climbing opportunities. Learn the basics of ice climbing in one of our introductory courses or, once you have the skills, join us for a guided winter ascent of an alpine route.
- Location:North Cascades and Central Washington
- Season:December - March
- Length:1 day and up
- Cost:Varies
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