Course Descriptions>Ice Climbing Courses and Trips
Half Day Ice Climbing Taster
Do you want to give ice climbing a try or take your family out for a different kind of winter activity? The Taster focuses primarily on movement skills and will get you out on the ice and moving about.
Available in the following locations:
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Acadia National Park, ME
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Bangor, ME
Gear Required: Clothing appropriate for the day.
What's Provided: All the technical equipment including double boots.
Full Day Introductory Ice Climbing Experience
This is an excellent introduction to waterfall ice climbing for those with little to no experience. In this course you will gain confidence, knowledge and a proper foundation of skills for climbing frozen waterfalls. You will learn to read the ice and begin to understand its many textures and strengths. Also, you will become familiar with the use of crampons, technical ice tools and basic rope skills such as knots, belaying and rappelling. If you a rock climber and already familiar with some of these skills we will move on to more detailed skills.
Emphasis will be placed on efficient movement over diverse ice terrain, awareness of objective hazards, rope management and understanding the demands of winter climbing.
One day courses typically cover either low angle or steep angle ice climbing techniques depending upon your preference.
Two day courses offer comprehensive instruction in the above and upon completion of this course participants should be a reliable and confident second for an experienced leader.
Or combine any number of days to create the perfect personal experience with each day building on the last.
Available in the following locations:
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Mount Washington Valley / North Conway, NH
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Sunday River/Grafton Notch, ME
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Sugarloaf, ME
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Acadia National Park, ME
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Camden, ME
Gear Required: Clothing appropriate for the day.
What's Provided: All the technical equipment including double boots.
Full Day Intermediate Waterfall Ice Climbing
Sharpen your tools and learn to climb more complex and challenging climbs. Vertical ice takes on many varied and beautiful forms. Descriptions include mushrooms, bulges, cauliflower, candlesticks, chandeliers, pillars, curtains, smears, and flows. Even the color of ice varies with climate, time of day, temperature, and location. Imagination and experience are the keys to efficient and confident movement on this awe-inspiring terrain. Efficient placement and use of tools and crampons, resting techniques, placement and removal of ice protection, and incorporating rock climbing movements into your ice climbing are all part of the day's events. In this course you will be introduced to the placement of ice screws and the construction of ice anchors.
Combine any number of days to create the perfect personal experience with each day building on the last.
Available in the following locations:
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Mount Washington Valley / North Conway, NH
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Sunday River/Grafton Notch, ME
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Sugarloaf, ME
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Acadia National Park, ME
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Camden, ME
Gear Required: Clothing appropriate for the day.
What's Provided: All the technical equipment including double boots.
Learn to Lead Waterfall Ice Climbs
Cut years off your learning curve by learning to do it right the first time (aka: Save your ... Take a Class!). Climbers who are already competent at following Grade 3 climbs may take this class. The course addresses the many details that can change leading a climb from a death defying experience to an enjoyable experience with predictable risk. The course covers placing protection, building anchors, belaying partners, rope management, getting down, and basic problem solving for when you are in a pinch. We will take you through a skills progression that culminates in you actually leading a climb if you and your guide feel you're ready for it. Some people take this course multiple times.
Combine any number of days to create the perfect personal experience with each day building on the last.
Available in the following locations:
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Mount Washington Valley / North Conway, NH
-
Sunday River/Grafton Notch, ME
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Sugarloaf, ME
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Acadia National Park, ME
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Camden, ME
Gear Required: Clothing appropriate for the day.
What's Provided: You are welcome to use your own tools and boots. If you need additional gear from us we are happy to provide what you need at no charge.
Alpine Snow and Ice Climbing on Mount Washington
Pinnacle Gully, Yale Gully, Damnation Gully, Odell's Gully ...
Spend a day in the alpine zone climbing a famous snow and ice gully in Huntington Ravine. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy some of the best alpine climbing in the east but you should have completed at least an introductory ice course prior to this one. Huntington Ravine has long been a training ground for alpinists who are seeking to climb in the greater ranges. Here you can "put it all together" combining snow and ice climbing along with avalanche awareness and winter travel skills. As with any winter mountaineering venture, this course is subject to mother nature's variables.
Optional Early Start: Add a late afternoon and evening to your trip and awaken only a few minutes from the base of your climb. Following classic European style, we will spend the night in the warmth of the Harvard Cabin at the base of Huntington Ravine where climbers have long spun tall tales of climbing adventures around the world.
Combine any number of days to create the perfect personal experience with each day building on the last.
Gear Required: Gear list provided.
What's Provided: You are welcome to use your own tools and boots. If you need additional gear from us we are happy to provide what you need at no charge.
Ice Climbing In China
Now is the time to plan for your next ice climbing adventure!
A unique opportunity to ice climb in the mountains of western China - akin to the Canadien Rockies but without the extreme cold. In 2002 AMG guides Jon Tierney, Craig Luebben and Peter Doucette first journeyed to China to survey a mountain area that had seen very few climbers. What they found was then featured in Climbing #133, Great Walls of Ice. With difficulties ranging from mellow Grade 2 to as hard as imaginable, this area in the Sichuan Province of China has now become a legendary ice climbing area with plenty of opportunity for ascents of both water ice and alpine routes at a variety of ability levels. This is an adventure climbing trip and we typically stay with a host family near the village of Rilong and travel daily to the climbing areas. Once you get to China, the approaches are easier than most New England climbs, often climbing through mountain meadows. Just stay away from the "friendly" Yaks. Next winter we are seeking 2 - 3 motivated individuals to join us on another adventure. Let it be you!
A History of
Leading the way...
Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School is the preeminent leader in climbing instruction and guiding in Acadia and across Maine. We specialize in designing customized experiences or training for you, your family or your group.
Directed by internationally recognized IFMGA guide Jon Tierney who has been climbing in Acadia since 1982. Jon has over 30 years of local and worldwide experience. The IFMGA requires full AMGA certification as a rock, alpine and ski mountaineering guide.
All AMGCS instructors are certified by either the AMGA or the PCIA and all guides have been trained or certified by the AMGA.
• Since 1994 •
AMGCS is one of 30 AMGA accredited programs in the US and was one of the earliest to achieve accreditation.
AMGCS is the only climbing school in Maine to remain continuously accredited by the AMGA for eighteen years - several years longer than any other local service. We have had one or more full time AMGA certified rock instructors or rock guides on staff each year since 1994 - sixteen years more than any other local school.
• Since 2007 •
AMGCS has the distinction of also being accredited to the highest standards of the Professional Climbing Instructors Association. The PCIA requires all staff to be individually trained and certified.
Experience the difference.
Reach your peak with Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School.