Ice Climbing

Few things compare to climbing a mountain face with other adventuresome New Yorkers, exploring a vertical ice flow high in the crisp winter air.

When ice climbing you will be harnessed and belayed with ropes, while scaling features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. Ascend to an icy perch by anchoring your ice axe above and planting your crampons securely in the ice. This unique experience will be even more exhilarating as you learn new climbing skills in the midst of snow drifts and beautiful hanging icicles.

You can change your course over the day, as you gain skills and confidence. You will learn equipment usage, climbing techniques, rappelling and safety steps and you will have ample time to put it all to use. We will spend a full 5-6 hours learning and climbing. This trip is appropriate for avid climbers as well as first-timers as we will have a number of courses and climbing guides to coach each ability level.

 

Event Details

• DEPART
• 7:15 AM Please arrive at 7:00 AM for check-in.
• RETURN
• Approximately 7:00 PM
• DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
• Eastern Mountain Sports Upper West Side (Broadway/76th St.) Subways 1, 2, 3 to 72nd Street.
• BRING
• Please click the pack list tab above for what to wear and pack; bring your own lunch and water.
• INCLUDES
• All climbing gear, guides and transportation.
• PLEASE INDICATE
• Your gender and shoe size in the comments box on the checkout page.
• INTENSITY LEVEL
• This trip is Intensity Level 3. Read a full description of all levels.

Want to share this event or trip?

On your ice climbing trip, you will be led by professional climbing guides, dedicated to providing safe and educational adventures. To ensure your trip is safe as well as successful, the guides are certified by American Mountain Guide Association. AMGA only certifies individuals who demonstrate the highest level of knowledge and ability in the areas of rock and alpine climbing and ski-mountaineering, including leadership, judgment, client care, technical expertise, rescue skill, and environmental consciousness. Most importantly, our guides are sensitive, encouraging teachers willing to work hard to make your days rewarding and successful.

What’s Included

All technical gear: ice boots, crampons, helmet, ice axes

Bring

• Backpack, lunch, water, money for snacks
• Water bottle, two quarts. Soup or hot tea is a great thing to have in your thermos!

Wear

Be prepared to be out moving and standing outdoors in temperatures from 35 degrees to below freezing. We may also be hiking into the climbing area—so please wear winter hiking boots. No tennis shoes or inappropriate footwear. Keep in mind that in the winter “cotton kills.” Be sure to wear clothing made out of synthetic materials. Wool is a great choice, but it gets heavy when wet and is not as warm as fleece. Down is a great insulator—just be sure to keep it dry! Use a layering system that consists of the following:

• A wicking first layer: capilene, bergaline, thermal dynamics, polypro, etc.
• A midweight insulating layer, such as a fleece.
• An insulated jacket
• Two warm hats
• Ski gloves or mittens, two pair
• Wool or synthetic socks. Bring an extra pair as well.
• Sunglasses or goggles
• Optional Gaiters to keep the snow out of your boots.
• Optional Any personal medications you may need and a camera.

Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides

From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.

Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.

Diverse & Interesting Groups

There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.

New Experiences

Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.

Environmental Awareness

“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.