Do I need prior ice climbing experience?

No—this clinic teaches mixed techniques; however you should be comfortable with single-pitch rock climbing and belaying.

All climbing equipment is provided; personal gear may be used and is welcome.

Is transportation included?

Transportation to and from the climbing site is not included.

Bring warm, layered clothing, a waterproof shell, and cold-weather gear; specific cold-weather clothing is not included.

What is the group size?

Clinics accommodate up to eight people to keep instruction focused and hands-on.

Ice Festival Mixed Climbing Clinic Near Colorado Springs: Half-Day Skills for Rock and Ice | Climbing | Workshop

Q: Where do we meet?

Your guide will meet you at the picnic tables at the Pumphouse wall (first wall on your left). If you have any issues or questions we'll have a pop up set up at the Beer Garden (last wall on the left).

On clear winter mornings near Colorado Springs, the Ice Festival Mixed Climbing Clinic condenses a season of learning into a crisp four-hour session that rewrites how you move on rock and ice. Hosted on a local crag just outside town, the clinic introduces climbers to the awkward, rewarding mechanics of mixed climbing—where crampon points, tool placements, and smeary rock contacts coexist on vertical ice traces and frozen ledges. The meeting point is the picnic tables at the Pumphouse wall (first wall on your left); if you have any issues or questions we'll have a pop up set up at the Beer Garden (last wall on the left).

The site itself is a compact collection of short to moderate routes that present clean transitions between frozen water and exposed rock. Expect steep, scratchy sections where ice thins into streaks and pockets of hard rock require precise tool handling and balanced body positions. In this half-day clinic guides focus on core mixed techniques: dry-tool placements, front-pointing, tool recovery, and reading mixed terrain so you can link moves with less force and more efficiency. All climbing equipment is provided; bring any personal gear you prefer and your questions.

This is a skills clinic designed for climbers who want to add mixed movement to their toolbox, not a guided alpine ascent. With small groups—up to eight people—coaching is hands-on and specific, and instructors drill the awkward torqueing and footwork that feel unintuitive at first. The short, varied lines at the Pumphouse and Beer Garden provide repeated practice on real terrain rather than artificial training walls.

Beyond technique, the clinic is culturally rich: Colorado Springs is a regional hub for alpine and ice climbing, and local climbers have been testing mixed tactics on these walls for years. Learning here plugs you into that community, which is a helpful resource when you step up to longer routes. Practicalities: the clinic runs from 8AM–12PM, all climbing equipment is provided, bring warm layers and food for afterward, and be prepared for cold-weather clothing not included in the price. Transportation to the site is not provided.

Whether you want to bridge the gap between winter ice and technical rock or gain confidence before a multi-pitch alpine objective, this clinic gives realistic, transferable skills. It’s technical, fun, and focused—an efficient way to make mixed climbing feel like an extension of your rope skills rather than a different sport. Expect individualized feedback on foot placement, tool angles, and gear placement so each move becomes more precise, and plan to follow up with guided practice or repeat sessions to lock in muscle memory and movement efficiency; these clinics accelerate progression more than solo practice alone and build confidence for longer winter objectives.