The San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado are home to some of the most inspiring, classic ice routes in the US. Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned hardman, we’d love to give you a taste of the ice outside our doors.

We hold US Forest Service Permits to guide outside of Ouray, CO. We can also facilitate getting you into the world-famous Ouray Ice Park, or onto some of the long, alpine ice climbing routes near Silverton or Telluride.

Our local ice climbing routes provide a great way to hone your skills for upcoming alpine routes in Alaska and elsewhere. Get your systems “dialed” before you embark for the Great White North.

We will instruct you in the latest techniques that will help you push yourself and improve as a climber. Emphasis on efficiency and how to organize your systems will prepare you for your next big route.

Our business philosophy embraces working closely with like-minded guide services in order to provide our ice climbers with the best possible experience. With that in mind, we encourage you to visit San Juan Mountain Guides in Ouray, CO or Southwest Adventure Guides in Durango for additional climbing options. If you’ve climbed with us in the past and would like to get some ice climbing under your crampons- give us a ring.

Training Climbs and Follow Up Climbs

We are very fortunate to live and guide in one of the highest concentrations of water ice in the world. Our southwest corner of Colorado is home to numerous classic ice routes of all grades. We will work with you if you are a novice ice climber to pick routes suitable for your level of experience. More experienced climbers can access routes that will push their limits such as the iconic Bridalveil Falls (WI5+), above Telluride, the Ames Ice Hose (WI 5+ and perhaps the best 3 pitch ice route in the state).

When you feel that you are ready to take those skills onto bigger alpine routes, consider the following:

• West Face Couloir of Mount Huntington: Alaska grade V, 85-degree ice, ca. 4000’
• Ham and Eggs Couloir on Mooses Tooth: Alaska Grade V, 5.7, AI 4 ca. 2900’
• Shaken not Stirred on Mooses Tooth: Alaska Grade V, AI 5, ca. 2200’
• Deprivation on the NW Buttress of Mount Hunter: Alaska Grade 6, ED+, 90 degrees, ca. 6000’

Leashless climbing is the way!  Technology has changed the sport of ice climbing and it is easier than ever to learn the skills required to get vertical in the frozen world.  Ice climbing feels much more “natural” now than it did even a few years ago, and we are finding that climbers are progressing much more rapidly in the sport.

Coming Soon