Ice Climbing & Mountaineering
LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK
Lake Placid and the surrounding area are home to some of the best and most accessible ice climbing in the United States. The variety of winter climbing terrain here makes the Adirondack Mountains a sought after ice climbing destination for many every winter. The shorter low angle stepped waterfalls of Cascade Pass serve as the perfect classroom for our introductory programs, while classic longer Adirondack routes such as Chouinard’s Gully and Roaring Brook Falls make unforgettable outings for our guests once they have had a chance to practice and become comfortable with some basic climbing skills. Climbers who are looking to learn the fundamentals of mountaineering will find the many exposed alpine climbs and open summits of the Adirondack high peaks region offer the perfect setting to do so. If you’re not sure which program is right for you feel free to give us a call. We are more than happy to help you choose a course or private program that is right for you based on your experience and goals, whether you have been climbing for years or if you are excited to try climbing for the first time. Our guides are out climbing daily during the winter season and we are always excited to share our first hand knowledge of the dynamic winter environment with our guests.
Private Guided Climbs
Looking to master a specific skill or accomplish a particular goal or maybe you just want the guide to yourself, or on a day of your own choosing. Regardless of the reason or the size of your party, just give us a call at 845-668-2030 to set up a private climbing day tailored to your needs and schedule. Private ice climbing and mountaineering available 7 days a week. READ MORE… Available 7 days a week. Please call 845-668-2030 to schedule a climb.
Introduction To Winter Hiking
Looking to extend your three season outdoor fun but not quite sure where to begin? Come join us for our introduction to winter hiking and see why you don’t need to put your adventures on hold when the snow starts to fly. During this program we will learn how to adapt our basic hiking skills to the winter environment, learn appropriate emergency preparedness for cold environments, learn all about appropriate clothing and equipment and how to say safe and warm during your expanded four season endeavors. READ MORE…
Introduction To Ice Climbing
Join us on this full day ice climbing course and you’ll come away with a full understanding of the fundamentals of winter climbing. It all starts here for people headed toward the winter pursuit of ice climbing. In this full-day course, we will outfit you with all the technical gear required to move on steep snow and ice. Efficient movement with crampons and ice axes forms the backbone of security for an ice climber. We will cover walking in crampons and how to operate at an ice crag. READ MORE… Intermediate Ice Climbing
If you’ve taken our Introduction to Ice Climbing course or have some previous ice climbing experience elsewhere, this full day course is for you. After reviewing the basics and getting back into the swing of things, we will then focus on specific techniques for efficient movement on steeper ice, focusing in on building more confidence allowing you to climb longer, steeper lines. READ MORE…one day / ratio 1:2 / private classes also available
Accelerated Mountaineering
This is one of our most popular winter program, and a solid foundation for anyone headed to Mt. Rainier, Denali, or similar objectives. This course will have a mix of “classroom” and outdoor time. On day one we will discuss individual experience and goals and how we will tailor this course for your specific group. Day 2 will be a mixture of classroom and outdoor time. Our classroom time will be focused on selecting objectives (mountains!!) to climb and how to go about climbing them. During day 2 we will, as a team, choose a mountaineering objective for day 2.READ MORE…
Glacier Skills & Crevasse Rescue
If you aspire to climb bigger mountains out West or abroad, learning to rope up for and travel over glaciers is essential. You’ll also need to know how to extricate yourself or your partner from a crevasse. Though there are no glaciers in the Northeast, our instructors can teach you all of the latest tricks and techniques for navigating though these hazards. A portion of the day will be spent learning the basics of glacier rigging for different sized rope-teams, as well as equipment options and crevasse rescue systems. We will then set up and practice the demonstrated techniques in the field. We require technical climbing experience or participation in one or more of our mountaineering courses for this hands-on, technical program. 
