Experience Level
When you sign up for an Ice Festival Clinic wwe give you an idea of the experience level required for each class below the clinic description. It is a good idea to follow our recommendations, but if you don’t fit neatly into one of the boxes don’t stress too much about it. Just sign up for whichever clinic you think you best fit in and you will be taken care of. The learning curve in ice climbing is very steep. You will quickly find yourself accomplishing things you never thought possible, before the Bozeman Ice Festival!
Regardless of the clinic you are in, the instructors will be patient and accommodating for all skill levels and experience. We will be toprope climbing and you will be belayed by professionals. It will be fun! You will learn to how to efficiently swing an ice axe, crampon techniques, how to climb with finesse and where to to take rests. There will also be clinics on how to read ice, ice anchors and mixed climbing, and pretty much anything else you want to learn that day.
We have seen our clinics literally change lives in the course of an afternoon. Graduates from our Festival have gone on to become accomplished and confident climbers in their own rite.
The take away message is, sign up for whichever clinic you feel best fits your needs and we will help you do the rest.
What We Provide
- An opportunity to hang out with, interact, learn techniques and inspiration from some of the most experienced ice climbers and guides in the world in a safe, supportive and fun environment.
- All the latest in cutting edge ice climbing equipment including: Crampons, Boots, Ice Axes, Helmets, Harnesses and Ropes. There may be limited demo clothing and gloves available as well.
All the demo gear is handed out the night PRIOR to your scheduled day between 5 pm and 7 pm at the Emerson Center, 111 S Grand Ave, Bozeman.
RETURN ALL DEMO GEAR AND CLOTHING IN THE PARKING LOT BEFORE HEADED BACK TO TOWN.
What You Need To Bring
A positive attitude and the ability to have fun!
A vehicle with sufficient traction and humph that will get up and down the icy roads of Hyalite Canyon safely and efficiently. Please work together and car pool as much as possible. Look for our car pool announcements elsewhere in this program and during the nightly events. We can’t stress this enough!
A day pack to carry your gear, food, water and extra clothing.
Ski or trekking poles are optional but some people find them useful on the uphill approach to the climbs (15 to 30 minutes depending on the area).
Credit Card. This is required for a deposit on any demo gear you might be using and you need to bring it with you the night before your class when you check out your gear.
Hats & Gloves. The thinner and more dexterous your gloves, the more manageable it is to hang on and to swing ice axes. It is recommended you bring at least one pair of thinner shell gloves or even extra liners for climbing and a warmer pair or even mittens that you can keep dry and put on when you are not climbing. Bring a warm hat that covers your ears and will fit under a helmet. A neck gaiter or balaclava is recommended.
Clothing. Use a traditional layering system of long underwear, a mid insulating layer and a shell coat. Trimmer fitting clothing is best, particularly for your pants. Think Cross Country Skiing with some time standing around. Big baggy snowboard pants will work but increase the chances you might snag your cuffs with the sharp crampon points.
Belay Coat. It is not uncommon that there is water running or dripping on an ice climb. You must expect that you will get wet hands, and occasionally your whole body might get soaked while on the ice. Bring your favorite down parka or similar puffy coat to stay warm while on the ground.
Food & Drink. We suggest your favorite outdoor lunch. Just something quick and goes down easy like left-over Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. Bring at least a liter of water. A thermos of hot tea or coffee is also a nice treat. Gourmet to go sandwiches are available through our partner Solá Cafe. We’ll even deliver to Hyalite for you.
Aprés-Climb. A dry pair of socks and boots or snow packs to put on at the end of the day after dropping your demo boots off with Ice Festival staff in the parking lot. A warm, dry coat to replace your climbing jacket to keep you warm as we decompress and share stories with everyone back in the parking lot and on the drive back to town.
Getting There and Carpooling
All clinic participants and athletes meet at 8 am at the Grotto Falls Parking Lot at the end of end of Hyalite Road.
In this program are maps of Bozeman to help you find the Hyalite Road #62 and there is another map of upper Hyalite showing the route from the Reservoir to the Grotto Falls Parking Lot. At this URL is a map you can download to your smart phone if you want more information: http://bit.ly/eSts1W
The Grotto Falls Parking Lot where we stage for the clinics gets over-full. We will make sign up sheets available for you and your fellow ice festers to sign up if you are looking for a ride and those who have space. We will be making announcements throughout the festival and please ask festival staff if you have questions.
We can’t stress enough how important it is for you all to make an effort to car pool as much as possible.
Thanks in advance.
