Ice Climbing Banff & Canmore

Programs for New and Inexperienced Climbers

``I'm feeling much more confident as an ice-climber, and I'm feeling really excited to get out there and climb!``

– Nubia

[Insert paragraph speaking directly to new and inexperienced climbers, address common painpoints/problems etc.]

[Talk about the benefits – WHY choose a private guide, WHY these courses, what they get out of it, how they’ll feel after a course etc.]

[Who its for – When a customer reads this they should say “yes that’s me!”]

Here are some starter courses we suggest:

Intro Ice Teaser

Half Day Experience

Perfect for the busy vacationer or business professional who want to experience the thrill of ice climbing. The Intro Ice Teaser is a 4hr outing with two timeslots: 8am and 1pm. Alternate times can be arranged if requested.

Location

Junkyards (5 min outside Canmore)

Dates

Nov 15 – May 15 | Upon Request

Equipment Included

Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

Cost

$400 + GST for a 1:1 ratio; each additional participant is $100/person

Full Day Ice Fun

Full Day Experience

Great for families, friends, and corporate team building- any day of the week. Full Day Ice Fun is similar to the Ice Teaser, but being the full day option, is a better BANG for your buck!

Location

Multiple Locations within an hour drive from Canmore

Dates

Nov 15 – May 15 | Upon Request

Equipment Included

Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

Cost

$575 + GST for a 1:1 ratio; each additional participant is $100/person

Ice Climbing Course 1

Intro & Movement – Beginner Level

Spend 2 days learning how to ice climb with instruction and coaching. This is a beginner Level Ice Climbing Class.

Location

Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

Dates

2022/23: Dec 3-4; Jan 14-15; Feb 11-12; Mar 4-5

Rental Equipment

Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

Cost

$350 + GST for this 2 day course.
What You’ll Learn
  • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols
  • Equipment & Proper Use
  • Staying Warm as an Ice Climber
  • Ice Climbing Safety Practices (ie. Belay Locations, etc.)
  • Ground School (Walking in Crampons, Ice Tool Placement, etc)
  • Knots, Belaying, Communication
  • Roped Ice Climbing Skill Session
  • Climbing w/ Direct Feedback
  • Waterfall Ice Grading System
  • Lots of Climbing and Fun!
  • Ice Progression (ie. Ice 2)
*Receive 10% off when you book the Full Ice Progression (Ice 1 - Ice 4) OR book with a group of 4 or more!

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    Booking Information

    Prior to booking any of our courses please review our Booking InfoAll guests must read, understand, & sign our ACMG Waiver. We will provide a copy for you to sign before each trip or course. We can accommodate equipment needs as requested. Equipment rental is not included in the course costs. Ice Climbing Course 1 – 4 are on the dates found below. The Intro To Ice Teaser, Full Day Ice Fun, Mixed Climbing Course, and Custom Courses dates are all booked upon request. If you have any question please check out our FAQ and don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

    Not sure what you need for your course? No worries, we’ve made this quick checklist to ensure you’re ready to go!

    New to Ice Climbing? We suggest the following courses:

    Intro Ice Teaser

    Half Day Experience

    Perfect for the busy vacationer or business professional who want to experience the thrill of ice climbing. The Intro Ice Teaser is a 4hr outing with two timeslots: 8am and 1pm. Alternate times can be arranged if requested.

    Location

    Junkyards (5 min outside Canmore)

    Dates

    Nov 15 – May 15 | Upon Request

    Equipment Included

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

    Cost

    $400 + GST for a 1:1 ratio; each additional participant is $100/person

    Full Day Ice Fun

    Full Day Experience

    Great for families, friends, and corporate team building- any day of the week. Full Day Ice Fun is similar to the Ice Teaser, but being the full day option, is a better BANG for your buck!

    Location

    Multiple Locations within an hour drive from Canmore

    Dates

    Nov 15 – May 15 | Upon Request

    Equipment Included

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

    Cost

    $575 + GST for a 1:1 ratio; each additional participant is $100/person

    Ice Climbing Course 1

    Intro & Movement – Beginner Level

    Spend 2 days learning how to ice climb with instruction and coaching. This is a beginner Level Ice Climbing Class.

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2022/23: Dec 3-4; Jan 14-15; Feb 11-12; Mar 4-5

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    $350 + GST for this 2 day course.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols

    • Equipment & Proper Use

    • Staying Warm as an Ice Climber

    • Ice Climbing Safety Practices (ie. Belay Locations, etc.)

    • Ground School (Walking in Crampons, Ice Tool Placement, etc)

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication
    • Roped Ice Climbing Skill Session
    • Climbing w/ Direct Feedback
    • Waterfall Ice Grading System
    • Lots of Climbing and Fun!
    • Ice Progression (ie. Ice 2)

    5 - Day Ice Intensive

    Beginner to Intermediate

    Take your climbing to the next level with this intensive course. Five days of skills and training to get you ready to crush on your own!

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2022/23: Nov 28-Dec 2; Jan 9-13, Feb 6-10, Mar 6-10

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    $995 + GST
    What You’ll Learn
    • Emergency Protocols, Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Mountain Sense

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Ice Safety Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Steep Ice Technique & Ice Screws Placements

    • Rappelling & Prusiks

    • Avalanche Awareness

    • Crampon Techniques & Tool Placement

    • Ice Anchors & V-threads

    • Mock-leading Experience with Instant & Positive Feedback

    • Route Planning Strategies

    • Emergency & Limited Improvised Rescue Practice

    • Avalanche Awareness

    Ice Climbing Course 2

    Steep Ice & Anchors – Beginner to Intermediate Level

    Spend 2 days learning how to gracefully & efficiently climb waterfall ice, how to setup various ice anchors, and much much more. Expand your experience with the “Draft Monday” option available during checkout.

    *On  we’ll be offering a 1-day Steep Ice Technique camp. Sign up if you want to hone in your ice climbing and become a better climber. Cost $175 + tax.

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2022/23: Dec 10-11; Jan 28-29; Feb 18-19; Mar 4-5

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    $350 + GST for this 2 day course.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols

    • Equipment & Proper Use

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Crampon Techniques and Tool Placement

    • Ice Safety Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Ice Screws & V-Threads

    • Top-Rope Anchors & Directionals

    • Rappelling, Prusiks

    • Waterfall Ice Grades and Guidebooks

    • Steep Ice Technique

    • Ice Progression (ie. Ice 3)

    Ice Climbing Course 3

    Lead Climbing – Intermediate Level

    Spend 2 days with the pros learning how to become a solid and responsible lead climber. Expand your experience with the “Draft Monday” option available during checkout.

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2022/23: Dec 17-18; Feb 4-5; Feb 25-26; Mar 18-19

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    $350 + GST for this 2 day course.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Ice Safety Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Steep Ice Technique, Ice Screws, Anchors

    • Rappelling 

    • Fall Forces/Fall Factors

    • Mock Leading w/ Ice Screw Placement

    • Opportunity to Lead Easier Ice if Competent

    • Avalanche Awareness

    • Ice Progression (ie. Ice 4)

    Ice Climbing Course 4

    Multi-Pitch Climbing – Intermediate to Advanced Levels

    Spend 2 days learning the skills required to multi-pitch climb longer, frozen waterfalls. Expand your experience with the “Draft Monday” option available during checkout.

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2023: Jan 7-8; Mar 4-5; Mar 25-26

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    $575 + GST for this 2 day course.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Emergency Protocols, Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Mountain Sense

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Ice Safety Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Leading Steep Ice Technique & Ice Screws Placements

    • Rappelling & Prusiks

    • Avalanche Awareness

    • Thermal Layering Strategies

    • Multi-Pitch Ice Anchors & New Belay Techniques

    • Multi-Pitch Ice Experience with Instant & Positive Feedback

    • Route Planning Strategies

    • Emergency & Limited Improvised Rescue Practice

    • Ice Progression- Staying Safe

    Dry-Tooling

    1-Day Experiential Course

    Start your season off early and join us for this 1-day dry-tooling course. This is a great way to prepare yourself for the upcoming season and feel what it’s like to place your picks when there’s no ice.

    Location

    We’ll either go to The Drive-In or The Playground

    Dates

    2022/23: Oct 30; Nov 6, 13, 20, 27

    Equipment Included

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

    Cost

    $175 + GST for this 1-day course
    What You’ll Learn
    • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Best Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Equipment for Dry-Tool Climbing

    • Movement Skills & Techniques

    • Direct Feedback on your Technique

    • Lots of Practice Top-Rope Climbing

    • Mock Leading upon Request

    Mixed Climbing Course

    Mixed Climbing – Beginner to Intermediate Levels

    Challenge yourself in the rock and ice playground of mixed climbing.

    Totally Fun! Totally Worth It!

    Location

    Multiple locations within an hours drive from Canmore

    Dates

    2022/23: Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 11

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, belay device

    Cost

    $175 + GST for this 1 day course.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Site Safety, Hazard Assessment, Emergency Protocols

    • Knots, Belaying, Communication​

    • Ice Safety Practices (ie. Standing and Belay Locations)

    • Equipment for Mixed Climbing

    • Mixed Climbing Techniques

    • Bolt Anchors & Anchor Cleaning

    • Practice Top-Roping Many Mixed Lines

    • Mock Leading upon Request

    • Direct Feedback on your Technique

    • Having a Blast!

    Custom Course

    Custom Climbing – All Levels

    We can develop custom courses to fit your specific requests.​

    Just Ask 🙂

    Location

    We can accomodate your requests.

    Dates

    Upon Request I Availability

    Rental Equipment

    Helmet, harness, ice axes, crampons, boots, belay device

    Cost

    TBD
    • You request the specific topics and we’ll work with you to develop a course that fits your needs.