Alpine Endeavors

ICE COURSES

As the days get shorter and colder and you put the rock shoes away, the ice is growing to give us spectacular and exciting climbing. Many rock climbers not only find it a great way to enjoy the cold, but also a great way to stay in shape!

We offer instruction for all climbing abilities. Whether you have no experience and never climbed before, or you are a competent lead climber looking to expand on your techniques, we are here to help. We build our day(s) around your experience and aspirations. We believe everybody is unique and learns differently. Therefore, we always try to tailor the day(s) around your needs. We’ll ask you what your previous experience is and what you hope to gain from climbing with us and take it from there.

We offer the courses below everyday unless otherwise noted. The rates are all the same unless otherwise noted, and we ask for at least a week notice for reservations. Please refer to our Rates and Reservations section for more information.

We will supply you with the all the necessary technical climbing equipment needed, please check out the Equipment page for what is actually supplied and what you’ll be required to bring.

For directions during the days we cimb in the Gunks, or Catskills, please refer to the Directions page under Logistics, or download them from Downloads. Keep in mind that due to the variety of places we climb, we will meet in many different places and at different times. Please be sure to verify your meeting location with your guide.

If you’re planning a few days with us, arrangements for accommodations can be made. Please refer to our Places to Stay page under Logistics, or e-mail me for more info. Below are some examples of the courses offered. We can very easily “custom build” a course to your specific needs. Please let us know if there is something you’re looking for that isn’t listed below.

Basic Ice
This is for anybody who wants to learn how to ice climb. If you have little or no climbing experience, or who need a refresher, this is for you. You’ll safely learn: equipment and it’s proper usage and care, commands, safety checks, knots, climbing techniques, belaying skills and rappelling.

Intermediate Ice
This is for those who have some previous experience and want to take it to a higher level. In this course you’ll learn to: follow and clean leads on single and/or multi-pitch routes, knots, rope management, rope stacking, and rope coiling, rappelling with a back-up, and more climbing techniques.

Multi-day Ice
For those wanting a complete outing is to combine the basic and intermediate courses into a 2, 3,4, or more day climbing trip. By the end of the trip you’ll have a good understanding of it all as well as feeling comfortable on the rock.

Groups
Are you and a bunch of co-workers are looking to try a new thing? This is for boy scouts, church groups, youth groups, and employees/employers of a business and/or corporation.
Please call us for group rates

Private
Do you have something specific in mind, either some skills or specific route somewhere? This is for climbers of any level seeking intensified training. Private guiding and instruction allows a unique opportunity to expand and develop skills while maximizing your climbing time. Learn the skills you want while climbing a classic route! For example: Cannon cliff, Cathedral Ledge, Frankenstein Cliff, Wallface in the Adirondacks, Mt Katahdin, Huntington ravine, etc.
^*Routes with long approaches and/or descents as well as climbs that are grade IV or higher are charged an additional $25 or more (dependant on the route involved) per day.

Learn to Lead
This is what it’s all about! For those climbers who are ready to tie into the “Hot End” and begin leading, or for those beginning leaders who need a little more experience to polish their skills. Over two days, this course includes:
Proper gear placement (ice screws, nuts, cams, etc.), building solid anchors using both natural and artificial gear, preventing rope drag by using runners, rope management, double-ropes, knots, route finding, etc.
By the end of this course you’ll be leading climbs with the protection of a top-rope.
^*Limited to 2 participants per guide.

Self Rescue
A must for all lead climbers! This is something that should be known by all climbers (leaders and followers), especially those who climb long routes and/or in remote areas. This 2 day course is designed to enable a climber to establish a self-rescue incase an accident occurred. With only the gear you have, you’ll learn how to: Escape a loaded belay, tie off an injured climber, ascend or descend a loaded rope, knot passing, raise a partner, rescue-rappel and pick off an injured climber.
We recommend you take some level of a wilderness medical course in addition to help you be more prepared. For more info on wilderness medicine contact SOLO (www.soloschool.com).
^*Limited to 2 participants per guide

Top rope set-up
This is for those of you who have the basic climbing skills and want to be able to get out and climb on your own. Over the 2-days we’ll show you how to safely set-up top-ropes, including skills such as: Knots, natural anchors, rappelling with a back-up, belaying and how to do al this safely when you’re out on your own.

Destinations:
We offer our services for ice climbing in the following areas:
• Mohonk Preserve, NY
• Catskill Mountains, NY
• Adirondack Park (such as: Wallface, Poke-O-Moonshine,
Keene Valley, etc.) NY
• White Horse, Cathedral Ledges, Cannon Cliff, Mt Washington, etc., NH
• Mt Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ME
• Rocky Mountain National Park (thru Colorado Mtn School), CO
• North Cascades National Park, WA.