Advanced Ice Climbing School (AICS) - Boulder - 2023

Climbing Course

Advanced Ice Climbing School (AICS)

This is the next level of ice climbing to prepare student to climb outside the teaching environment and prepare for Technical Ice Climbing School.

A mandatory classroom session is held on January 25th, 7:00 p.m. at Sherpa’s Adventure Restaurant 825 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302 If you cannot attend the Classroom date for the class, you will not be able to attend, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Field Day Schedule:

Friday January 27, Ouray Ice Park Kids Wall 12:00 PM 4:00 PM

Saturday January 28, Ouray Ice Entrance 7:00 AM 4:00 PM

Sunday January 29, Ouray Ice Entrance 7:00 AM 12:00 PM

Payment is required when you sign up for the class.  There will be a minimum of 3 students and a maximum of 4 per Ouray Ice Park Rules.  Ice climbing or mountaineering boots are mandatory and need rented or purchased. NO Scarpa Inverno boots.

Boots may be available for rent at Rock & Resole/Ice Coop in Boulder, Bentgate Mountaineering in Golden, Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder or REI Flagship in Denver.

 Ice climbing crampons and ice tools will be provided.  If you already own ice tools (no adz, hammers only) and or water ice crampons feel free to bring them. (No mountaineering crampons) There is no class discount if you bring your ice climbing equipment. The CMC will provide all climbing ropes, anchoring gear and hardware.

We will be fitting crampons at the classroom session; you MUST bring your Ice Climbing Boots. You MUST bring your backpack (28L to 35L recommended); a technical pack is highly recommended, these generally have no side pockets, it will have gear loops on the waist belt and room for a helmet and/or crampons.  Bring your pack with everything you expect to use for your time in the ice park including your climbing harness. The classroom session discussions include proper clothing and ice climbing equipment for use in an alpine setting.

Course Curriculum includes:

  • Belaying in an alpine setting
  • Rope management
  • Ice tool and crampon usage techniques
  • Ice climbing movement skills
  • Anchor selection, construction, and equalization
  • Anchor station management
  • Rappelling an alpine setting
  • Ice protection and ice anchors
  • An in-depth gear list will be provided prior to the class.

Hazard assessment including: discussion of objective vs. subjective hazards, assessment of avalanche danger, rock and ice fall dangers

QUALIFICATIONS: Students should know basic climbing skills such as belaying, rappelling and tie-in knots. Preference goes to students with BRS, BMS or HAMS

 Students provide:

  • Climbing Harness – Must fit over winter clothes (not over 5 years old) No lightweight mountaineering harnesses i.e. Alpine Bod, Black Diamond Couloir, Petzl Altitude or similar.
  • Carabineers – 3 screw gate locking (may substitute 1 auto locking carabineer)
  • NO Black Diamond RockLock Magnetron Carabineers or similar
  • Belay Device (ATC required) and GriGri if you have one. OK for belaying, not for rappelling.
  • REQUIRED Sterling Hollow Block or Sewn Prussic (No homemade prussics)
  • REQUIRED Metolius Alpine PAS (preferred) or Metolius PAS 22 Personal Anchor System (No Exceptions)
  • Helmet (helmets are available at no cost please notify the instructor if you need one). Be sure that you can get a winter hat under your helmet. (No helmets not over 10 years old or damaged ones)

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

 Students provide:

  • Climbing Harness – Must fit over winter clothes (not over 5 years old) No lightweight mountaineering harnesses i.e. Alpine Bod, Black Diamond Couloir, Petzl Altitude or similar.
  • Carabineers – 3 screw gate locking (may substitute 1 auto locking carabineer)
  • NO Black Diamond RockLock Magnetron Carabineers or similar
  • Belay Device (ATC required) and GriGri if you have one. OK for belaying, not for rappelling.
  • REQUIRED Sterling Hollow Block or Sewn Prussic (No homemade prussics)
  • REQUIRED Metolius Alpine PAS (preferred) or Metolius PAS 22 Personal Anchor System (No Exceptions)
  • Helmet (helmets are available at no cost please notify the instructor if you need one). Be sure that you can get a winter hat under your helmet. (No helmets not over 10 years old or damaged ones)
Course Materials

There are no materials for this course.