PHONE 970-209-2985
MAIL Vince Anderson, PO Box 323, Ridgway, CO 81432

Ice Climbing Instruction and Guided Ice Climbs in Ouray, Colorado with a Certified Guide


Vince Anderson climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. Whit Richardson Photo

Ice Climbing Equipment List

Become a member of the Ouray Ice Park and save money when you are in Ouray while helping preserve this great climber's resource.


If there is one thing we do best, it is ice climbing. And ice climbing in Ouray, Colorado is the perfect place to learn. Vince Anderson, owner and lead guide, is an internationally certified mountain guide, competes in the Ice Climbing World Cup, and is active in developing new ice climbs in the Ouray area. No other guide service can offer you this high quality of service and instruction. We have developed our training methods from years of experience and instruction. We strive to keep up with the ever changing techniques and equipment of current ice climbing. You will be learning tomorrow’s methods, not yesterdays. We will listen to your goals and customize the day’s experience to best facilitate helping you reach them.

CLICK ON ONE OF THESE OURAY ICE ADVENTURES:

The Ouray Ice Park
Learn to ice climb or advance your ice climbing skills in the Ouray Ice Park

Multi-Pitch Ice Climbing
Have an adventuresome winter day on a longer ice climb in the Ouray or Silverton area.

It is our hope that you get the absolute most out of your experience. If you are not satisfied with your day out on the ice, then you owe us nothing.
TRIPS OFFERED


Beautiful blue ice in the Ouray Ice Park. Photo by Whit Richardson

Leading onto a pillar in the Ouray Ice Park. Photo by Whit Richardson
Skyward Mountaineering is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider.
Skyward Mountaineering is a permittee of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest.
Ouray Ice Park
The state of the art in ice climbing instruction.
The Ouray Ice Park provides perhaps the ultimate teaching and learning environment for ice climbing. Located just minutes from downtown Ouray, the Ice Park has over 125 routes to choose from along the mile long Uncompaghre Gorge. All the climbs are one pitch in length and vary from easy grade 2 ice to M 9 mixed climbing testpieces. Your experience here will include a full day of hands on instruction from a trained professional. Spend some time learning the skills you need to go to the next step in the "schoolroom" and then go challenge yourself on one of the longer climbs in the "lead climb only" area. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned veteran, you will find that your day out will improve your climbing.

Season:
At just over 7,700 feet in elevation, the Ice Park season is a bit shorter than that of the high country climbs, lasting from mid-December until sometime in March
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Multi-Pitch Ice Climbing
With the onset of the winter season, the steep gullies and watercourses of the San Juans transform into a multitude of frozen waterfall ice climbs. The San Juan Mountains near the towns of Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton, Colorado are famous for hosting some of the finest ice climbs in North America. With literally dozens of climbs to choose from, it is hard for the casual ice climber and alpinist to get bored here. Climbs vary in length and ability from two to three pitch romps up rolling grade two ice to all day affairs involving ten or more pitches of steep ice and mixed climbing. All amidst the splendor of Colorado’s most rugged mountains.

As the mountains become draped in winter’s snows, the threat of avalanche can be strong enough to keep us off many climbs. In the early winter, however, a shallow snowpack allows us safe access to most all climbs. For this reason, most climbs are best done in the early season (late October through late December). Mid-winter usually finds us in the confines of the much smaller, but safer Ouray Ice Park. Though a few climbs usually stay relatively safe throughout the season.

Classics in the area include :

  • Stairway to Heaven, 900 feet, WI 4; the "must do" of the area
  • Whore House Hose, 500 feet, WI 4 in a stunning slot canyon
  • First and Second Gullies, 700 feet, WI 2+ to 3+, great moderate romp
  • Direct North Face of Peak 12,578, 1500 feet (no kidding), WI 4+
  • Dexter Slab, 500 feet, WI 3+ to 4, usually safe from avalanches
  • Bird Brain Boulevard, 1000 feet, M 5 to 6, a classic mixed climb
Season:
Conditions vary from year to year, but usually last from November until late March.
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CALL: (970)209-2985 OR EMAIL: vince@skywardmountaineering.com