Ice Climbing Camp (2-Day)

UMA’s Ice Climbing Camp is 2 full days of back-to-back climbing instruction with local professional ice climbing guides. Our ice camp typically takes place in Provo Canyon, where there is an ample amount of room for parties to spread out and practice technical skills on the ground. In addition to groundwork, you will spend the majority of your time climbing real ice.

This camp will not only help add mileage to your ice climbing resume, but it will also expedite the learning curve, allowing you to spend more time climbing confidently and less time doubting. With this course, you’ll have two days to solidify efficient systems and methods while having fun with new friends, partners and experienced mentors!

Being in the right headspace is a large part of any sort of climbing. UMA guides will discuss some of the best ways to approach a day of ice climbing, routes and what has contributed to their mountain mindset. Whether you’re a strong intermediate ice climber or still in the beginner phase, this camp is structured to complement both levels.

The easily accessible, high-quality routes of the Wasatch Range, combined with UMA’s expert ice instructors, create an ideal situation to progress on ice. Our 2-day course gets you plenty of mileage on fun, challenging pitches and helps you become a solid, safe water-ice climber.

2-Day Ice Climbing Camp Course Curriculum

Day 1:

• Review fundamentals and practice on multiple climbs
• Improve movement on ice with expert technique coaching
• Learn to place ice screws properly and efficiently
• Build and equalize ice anchors

Day 2:

• Multi-pitch climbing
• More advanced routes
• Vertical ice and efficiency techniques
• Learning to lead water ice
• Retreating and building V-threads
• Mixed ice and dry-tooling

The instructor will customize the curriculum based on participants’ abilities, goals and current ice conditions. You can expect to get hands-on experience and direct feedback from your guides each step of the way.

NEXT STEP IN ICE CLIMBING PROGRESSION

UMA’s Learn to Lead Ice course is the next step to becoming an independent ice climber. To gain more experience on ice and climb multi-pitch, you can also hire a private guide to scale some of Utah’s classic ice climbs, such as Millers Thriller, The Fang, Finger of Fate and many more. Learn more about these routes and our private guiding options in our Classic Wasatch Ice Climbs.

Course dates don’t fit your schedule?

Any of our pre-scheduled courses can be run as custom outings. If you’re interested in a course but the dates don’t fit your schedule, please check out our private guiding options.

Course Prerequisites

• You need some experience ice climbing (top rope).

Skill Level

• This is an intermediate course.
• We suggest a climber has at least 5-10 hours ice climbing on top rope before taking this course.

This is a full-day course; expect to be at the crag for up to 8 hours. Guests are expected to bring their own snacks, lunch and water (1-2 liters). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.

MEETING TIME & LOCATION

Guides typically meet guests in Provo Canyon at the Nunn’s Park exit parking lot on the south side of the road at 7:30 am. Situated near excellent ice climbing venues, we typically take advantage of the lower curtains of the world-class Stairway to Heaven formation in Provo Canyon, which is easily accessible by a 20-minute hike.

GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR

You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor. They will contact you to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

Transportation will not be provided.

How To Register

• Register Online
• Call us at (801) 550-3986
• Email us at [email protected]

UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 2 participants register.

Ice Climbing Camp EQUIPMENT LIST

• Non-cotton top and bottom base layers
• Puffy overcoat and/or insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down, preferably with a hood)
• Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket and pants
• Waterproof snow gloves and mittens or spare gloves
• Warm hat, balaclava or such for under your helmet
• Sunglasses and/or clear, protective eyeglasses (optional)
• 1-2 liters of water (thermos of tea or coffee optional)
• Lunch and quick energy snacks
• Backpack (25-45 liters)
• Warm, crampon-compatible mountain boots with a rigid sole
• Gaiters to protect pants from crampon punctures (optional)
• Vertical, water-ice crampons (12-point recommended)
• 2 water-ice tools
• Harness
• Belay/rappel device and locking carabiner
• Helmet

Please see our Ice Climbing Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.

Please see our main FAQ page for general questions or for anything not covered below. 

CAN DIFFERENT ABILITY LEVELS CLIMB WITH ONE GUIDE?

This is very feasible, especially for top-roping in Provo Canyon. Steep bulges, thin ice and mixed lines often present themselves right next to confidence-building WI 3 routes.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY OF ICE CLIMBING LIKE?

In Provo Canyon, the approach to the ice formations on the first tier of Stairway to Heaven is on a climber’s trail that gains 300-500 feet and takes about 20-30 minutes to hike. The UMA guide will take a belay and demonstrate techniques as they lead a pitch and set up one or more top-rope anchor(s). Each participant will have the opportunity to climb a few pitches to learn how to swing tools and kick to make a good foot placement. Demonstrations of ice anchors with ice screws and Abalakov thread (or V-thread) may occur depending on time and interest.

Where do I meet my guide?

You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide(s). They will contact you to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs. Most likely, you will be meeting at the Nunn’s Park exit parking lot on the south side of the road.