Ice partner/teacher wanted

I am looking to meet up with someone that would be down to teach and climb with a rookie. I've only been once before, and my background lies more strongly in rock than ice (like most in the front range I guess). As a result, I know all the basics on safety systems and techniques, so mostly it would just be lead/other climbing techniques specific for ice that I need to learn. I live in the boulder area and have pretty solid availability. I'll buy ya some beer or somethin' after. I'm up for anything and if nothing else I can be your belayer if you just want to get out. Let me know if you're interested and we can exchange contact info.

Im in Ouray for a while but would be OK with getting someone into Ice Climbing. Shoot me a PM and we'll work it out

What is truly awesome about living in the modern era is that we don't all have to be farmers just to provide food for ourselves. This has allowed people to truly specialize in their profession. There are knee doctors, there are Audi mechanics, there are people who write code specifically for that powerful little computer in your pocket... hell there are even people who are specially trained and qualified to teach you ice climbing.

Why are the knee doctors so good at what they do? Because they do it day in, day out - accumulation of skill and knowledge through experience.

You wouldn't post up on the internet asking for some stranger to teach you scuba diving for a case of beer would you?

Consider hiring a guide - you'll get what you pay for.

I wouldnt mind getting out and teaching what little I know. I have climbed ice for over a decade and I am still around so doing something right. Let me now when at bertfox@hotmail.com. Cheers

@brent: scuba requires a cert card license. And we need gear to breathe underwater. It's definitely mandatory to take the class. Not everyone has an extra $500-$1,000 for a climbing guide. I have paid both rock and ice guides and the cost is worth it. Any interest in carpooling to the ouray ice fest from so california and /or splitting a room in ouray 9-12? Pm me.

You have a valid request.

The best way to learn would be to go to Ouray, set up fixed lines & TR / "selfy" a few hundred pitches. With a rock background one should be comfortable setting up a top managed site, lowering in, and having a means to jug out if you cant get up the ice.

Scuba diving = breathe in, breathe out... not quite the same comparison. What is truly awesome about the modern world is that we don't all have to be jerks and we can offer solutions to help each other!

Many of the best rock climbers in the world never hired guides, they learned through passion! Just imagine Reinhold Messner looking to pay someone to teach him how to solo an 8,000m peak sans oxygen!

Please remember you always must rely on yourself, even if you have a belayer.

Will Gadd, a terrific ice climber, has "never taken a lead fall." He says 150 30-meter laps is the BARE MINIMUM to have ANY SORT OF UNDERSTANDING of ice. Just check out this video & read Will's critique of these lucky buffoons:

willgadd.com/ice-climbing-i…

Obviously you've never been diving. There are lots of ways to die and be crippled diving. Firstly by inhaling water or running out of air. The closest analogy to climbing would be on an 8000 meter peak. I've taken non divers in a shallow pool. Would not teach them in the ocean unless I was an instructor. I've taught many many people rock climbing. Ice top roping is not harder then rock. And not harder then learning how to drive a car. If you're a climbing guide then admit it.

Pete have will tell that to the seven year olds on the easy ice wall at ouray. Ran right up it.

I have my advanced open water certification for scuba diving. I got my standard open water certification when I was 12. It's great showing my ID card with a kid's face on it every time I dive! I just went diving in Thailand two weeks ago for the first time in 4 years, I took no refresher course, and I was surprised at how well I remembered to breathe in and breathe out. Almost like I've been practicing without even knowing it!

I wouldn't take a 12 year old kid up an 8000m peak & I am not a climbing guide. I wouldn't take myself up an 8000m peak either. But I am taking steps to be confident enough in myself to one day do so. To the OP, TRing is the first step to learn how to ice climb. Play around with clipping into your tools, play around with what happens when you lose a crampon. Play around with placing screws & not getting super pumped. Play on the ice and learn to love it!

Even though I'm not a guide, nor am I an experienced ice climber, I think a lot of people I admire would support my suggestion. If you want to learn how to climb ice, TR the shit out of it!

Will Gadd is one of the best ice climbers in the world, heed his advise & don't approach ice as you would rock!!! Ice isn't one of those namby pamby sports like tennis, or skiing.

Your comment about the 7 year old only supports my argument. Leading ice is super dangerous! Since even 7 year olds can TR it, go TR the shit out of every bit of ice you can touch! Then once you can read the ice, more advanced skillz can be acquired. By then, you'll probably have met some people who would like to share their knowledge!

I'd like to get out in the Ouray Ice Park Friday afternoon for some TRing. Send me a message if you're looking for a partner or wouldn't mind if I folded-into your group.

As to guides, I can recommend Jeremiah; his link is below. He's enjoyable, patient, safe, AMGA-certified, and an excellent teacher (in keeping tips simple and pertinent). And I think he just got his permit for the Lake City ice, so he'll be taking people there.

coclimbing.com/