Do I need to bring my own ice screws and tools?

Bring personal gear if you have it; guides can provide additional equipment on request but bringing familiar gear speeds the day.

What is the meeting point?

Your guide will meet you at the picnic tables at the Pumphouse wall; there will also be a pop-up at the Beer Garden if you need assistance.

Is prior experience required?

Yes—this clinic targets climbers who can lead basic ice routes and want to progress to multipitch objectives.

Is food or transport included?

No—transportation to the climbing site, food, and guide gratuity are not included in the booking.

What happens in bad weather?

Guides assess conditions and may alter objectives or focus on skill drills; if conditions are unsafe the clinic may be rescheduled per operator policy.

How many people are in a group?

Group size varies; your booking confirmation will list specifics. Expect small teams to maximize coaching time.

Ice Festival Multipitch Clinic: Advance Your Ice Climbing Skills at Pumphouse Wall

On crisp winter mornings at the Pumphouse Wall near Colorado Springs, Ice Festival Multipitch Ice Climbing Skills delivers focused, no-nonsense instruction for climbers ready to push beyond single-pitch routes. This eight-hour clinic, offered as part of the area's Ice Festival programming, combines on-snow decision-making with hands-on practice in anchor construction, route assessment, and efficient transitions for multipitch objectives. The meeting point is the picnic tables at the Pumphouse wall; guides also staff a pop-up at the Beer Garden to answer last-minute questions.

The setting is raw: seasonal ice flows banked against steep canyon walls that freeze into curtains, pillars, and seams. Climbers learn to read the ice—how temperature, sun exposure, and water flow influence the firmness of a pitch—then apply that reading to real anchors and belays. Instructors emphasize safety checks, rope management, and techniques for moving quickly between pitches so teams can tackle longer lines before conditions change.

This clinic is tailored to lead climbers who already have basic ice experience and want to step up to multi-length routes. Expect technical coaching on placing screws and ice protection, constructing two- and three-point anchors, building reliable belay stances, and managing haul systems or tag-lines. The day balances technical drills on shorter pitches with simulated multipitch scenarios that reinforce judgement under cold, windy conditions.

Logistics are straightforward: the program runs from 8AM–4PM and participants should bring personal climbing gear; guides can supply missing items upon request. Transportation, food, and guide gratuity are not included; warm clothing is essential. The Pumphouse area is close to Colorado Springs, where climbers can base themselves and access rental shops and outdoor-professional resources.

Beyond the classroom feel, the clinic offers a vantage on the local winter landscape: scattered pines and hardy shrubs cling to rock shelves, and ravine acoustics amplify the sound of crampons and ice tools. Keep an eye out for winter bird species and fresh tracks in the snow—signs of mountain mammals moving through the drainage.

Why book this trip? For climbers serious about progressing safely, the clinic compresses crucial multipitch competencies into one intensive day with credentialed guides, field-based instruction, and situational decision-making practice. It's a practical next step for anyone who wants to transition from single-pitch cragging to longer objectives with confidence. Meeting at the Pumphouse picnic tables keeps things simple and gear-focused—arrive ready to climb and leave with measurable skills.

Guides tailor feedback to individual goals, breaking down complex maneuvers into repeatable steps while practicing rescue scenarios, rope team communication, and weather-window planning; by day's end most participants leave with a checklist of skills to apply on objective alpine routes, plus specific next steps for gear upgrades and follow-up clinics to continue progression safely and efficiently and confidence in colder conditions regularly.