This web page is provided by the Seattle Mountaineers Water Ice Climbing
Subcommittee. The committee's mission is "Facilitate a vital and active water ice climbing community
within the club". To report problems or contribute content please contact Jeff Street
at jeffstrt@verizon.net.
News and Articles
Events and Activites
[hide course related events] 
| Wed Sept 24 | Introduction to Ice Climbing Kickoff Meeting |
| Sat-Sun Oct 4-5 | Introduction to Ice Climbing Field Trip #1 – Mt Baker |
| Wed Oct 1 | Introduction to Leading Water Ice Kickoff Meeting/Lecture #1 |
| Sat-Sun Oct 11-12 | Introduction to Leading Water Ice Field Trip #1 – Mt Baker |
| Sat Oct 18 | Mt Baker Ice Play Day #1 |
| Sun Oct 19 | Mt Baker Ice Play Day #2 |
| Wed Oct 29 | Introduction to Mixed Climbing Kickoff Meeting/Lecture |
| Thu Oct 30 | Dry Tooling Play Night |
| Sun Nov 2 | Introduction to Mixed Climbing Field Trip #1 - Issaquah |
| Wed Nov 5 | 2008/2009 Season Kickoff Mixer |
| Sun Nov 9 | Introduction to Mixed Climbing Field Trip #2 - Exit 38 |
| Wed Nov 12 | Indoor Ice Play Night |
| Tue Nov 18 | Introduction to Leading Water Ice Lecture #2 |
| Thu-Sun Nov 27-30 | Introduction to Leading Water Ice Field Trip #2 – Hyalite Canyon, MT |
| Date TBD | Ouray, Colorado Outing |
| Date TBD | Lilloette, BC Outing |
| Date TBD | Mountaineers Creek Ice Play Day |
| Date TBD | Hubba Hubba Climb |
| Date TBD | Umptanum Falls Ice Play Day |
| Date TBD | Banff, Cananda Outing |
Courses and Seminars
Online Resources
2008/2009 Season Kickoff Mixer
Wed Nov. 5th 7pm @ clubhouse (tenatively at the Magnuson clubhose room #119c, this is the room with the indoor ice wall ! )
If you are interested in ice climbing please come join existing members
of the club’s water ice climbing community for drinks and conversation. All
are welcome. Come find out more about the courses and outings we have planned
for the 2008/2009 season. Jeff Street, Water Ice Committee Chairman, will
present a brief overview of the water ice program’s offerings and philosophy as
well as a slide show. Sign-up not required.
Questions? Contact Jeff Street at jeffstrt@verizon.net
Indoor Ice Play Night
Wed Nov 12th 7pm @ Magnuson clubhouse
Meet at the Magnuson clubhouse in room #119c and have at it on the indoor artificial ice wall. You will need to bring a helmet, harness, assorted top-roping belay equipment, crampons and ice tools of your choice. Limited to six participants each night.
Eligibility and How to Join:
Any club member with the ability to safely belay can join! Sign-up begins on Oct 28th. Click here to join.
Questions? Contact Jeff Street at jeffstrt@verizon.net
Dry Tooling Play Night - Thu Oct 30th 7pm @ Rex's House
Meet in Rex's garage and have at it on his indoor drytooling wall complete
with top ropes. Top-roped overhanging wood routes. A couple of new routes from last year.
You will need a helmet, harness, assorted top-roping belay
equipment, and ice tools of your choice. NO crampons! The best shoes tend to be light
alpine boots, although I climb in slippers. Temps are typical outdoor temps: but gloves are generally not needed.
Contact the leader for permission to attend. This play night is intended for people who are involved (now or in the past) in courses
offered by the water ice climbing program.
For more details contact Rex Andrew at rx.andrew@ieee.org
Introduction to Ice Climbing
Explore the world of vertical ice climbing in this introductory course! One
evening in the classroom and two full days on the ice will provide you with a
solid foundation in efficient movement on steep and varied ice, understanding
ice quality and strength, constructing top rope anchors, gear selection, and
safety considerations specific to ice climbing. A small class size and top-roped setting
will help ensure a fun, personalized, and safe learning environment.
Upon completion of the seminar, particpants will have the skills necessary to follow an
experienced leader on vertical ice routes, construct top-rope anchors, and move
efficiently on steep ice terrain. Particpants will also have the opportunity to join the
Mountaineers ice climbing community on winter outings to some of the area's ice climbing
destinations and continue learning and climbing informally with their peers.
Course Leader:
Jeff Street jeffstrt@verizon.net
Course Fee:
$20
Equipment Required:
Ropes are provided but personal climbing equipment
(harness, helmet, crampons, ice axes, etc ) are not. Purchase, rent, or
borrow the required equipment. Alpine ice gear can suffice for the Mt
Baker field trip. More details about the personal climbing equipment
required will be provided at the kickoff meeting. If you have
questions please contact the course leader.
Curriculum and Schedule:
- Kickoff Meeting - Wed September 24 @ 7pm Seattle Clubhouse, Fireside Room
Join us for an informal classroom session to see what
ice climbing in the Northwest is all about. We'll give you
an overview of the climbing opportunities the area has to offer, cover the
logistics for the field trip, and give you a chance to check out some of the
gear you'll need to borrow, rent, or steal for the field trip
- Field trip at Mt Baker - Sat-Sun October 4-5
We'll spend a weekend at Mt Baker climbing everything from low-angle. to
moderate. to vertical. even overhanging ice! A small group
and close proximity to camp will ensure that you have ample time to climb. Students
must attend one weekend (Sat/Sun) with an overnight camp on the lower mountain.
Eligibility and How to Join:
Any club member with the ability to safely belay and rappel is can join! Completion of
the Basic Climbing course, any of the crag climbing courses, or equivalent experience are accepted.
Sign-up begins on Sept 9th. Click here to join this course.
Introduction to Leading Water Ice
Course Coordinator:
Jeff Street jeffstrt@verizon.net
Course Fee:
$40
Objective:
This course is intended to introduce particpants, who have basic proficiency at
following moderate alpine or water ice climbs, to the skills needed to safely lead water ice climbs.
Particpants will also have the opportunity to join the Mountaineers ice climbing community on winter outings to some
of the area's ice climbing destinations and continue learning and climbing informally with their peers.
Curriculum and Schedule:
- Kickoff Meeting/Lecture #1 – Wed Oct 1 @ 7pm Seattle Clubhouse, Fireside Room
Introduction and overview, equipment, training, review basic ice techniques, safety, field trip logistics.
- Field Trip #1 - Mt Baker - Sat-Sun Oct 11-12
Students attend both days. Steep ice techniques (TR), screw placements, anchors, mock leading.
- Lecture #2 - Tue Nov 18
Water ice formations, review advanced ice techniques, double rope techniques, safety, field trip logistics.
- Field Trip #2 - Hyalite Canyon, MT – Thu-Sun Nov 27-30 (or other locations and dates TBD )
Steep ice techniques (TR), mock leading and real leading as appropriate.
- Opportunities to participate in water ice outings during the winter.
Course Materials:
Equipment Required:
Ropes are provided but personal climbing equipment (harness, helmet, crampons, ice axes, etc )
are not. Purchase, rent, or borrow the required equipment. More details about the personal climbing equipment required
will be provided at the first lecture. If you have questions please contact
Jeff Street jeffstrt@verizon.net.
Completion Requirements:
- Attendance at both lectures and both field trips.
Eligibility and How to Join:
Any club member who has completed Intermediate Alpine Ice FT’s 1 & 2, the “Intro to Ice Climbing” seminar, or
has equivalent experience may apply to join this course.
Introduction to Mixed Climbing
Course Leader:
Jeff Street jeffstrt@verizon.net
Objective:
This course is to intended to introduce particpants interested in sport and/or alpine mixed climbing
to dry tooling techniques in a top roped setting. Besides learning dry tooling techniques
this should be a great way to get fit for the ice season. Come learn and
practice together with us!
Course Fee:
$20.
Equipment Required:
Ropes are provided but personal climbing equipment (harness, helmet, crampons, ice axes, etc )
are not. Purchase, rent, or borrow the required equipment. More details about the personal
climbing equipment required will be provided at the kickoff meeting/lecture..
Curriculum and Schedule:
- Kickoff Meeting/Lecture - Wed Oct 29th @ 7pm Seattle Clubhouse, Granite Room
Join us for an informal classroom session where
we'll get to know each other, listen to a presentation and discuss mixed climbing, drytooling techniques and equipment, and the logistics
of the field trips.
- Field Trip #1 - Sun Nov 2
We'll spend a day at the Issaquah dry tooling site top roping and working on our skills and fitness. This site provides beginner and intermediate level drytooling problems.
- Field Trip #2 - Sun Nov 9
We'll spend a day at the Exit 38 (AKA; Black Ice) dry tooling site top roping and working on our skills and fitness. This site provides intermediate to advance level drytooling problems.
Eligibility and How to Join:
This seminar is intended for club members with prior ice climbing experience but anyone
with the ability to safely belay and rappel can join. The seminar is limited to 8 particpants.
Sign-up begins on Oct 13th.
Click here to join the course
Mt Baker Ice Play Day
Leader:
Sat Oct 18 - Tom Lewis tnlsea@gmail.com
Sun Oct 19 - Phil Kelley philk@qwestoffice.net
Objective:
This play day is intended to provide an opportunity, for people with some prior ice climbing experince, for more ice climbing practice and social/partner
networking. No formal instruction will be provided, just unstructured practice time with top roping,
leading and following as appropriate for participants.
Eligibility and How to Join:
Anyone whose has completed or is attending the “Intro to Ice Climbing” or “Intro to Leading Water Ice” course, or
Intermediate Climbing course participants who’ve completed the Alpine Ice FT #1 and #2, or
have equivalent experience can particpate. Limited to 9 participants and 3 leaders.
Please contact Tom Lewis or
Phil Kelley if you are unsure of your eligibilty to join or have other questions.
To join online click one of the following links.
Please do not join both days.
Click here to join the Sat Oct 18 Play Day
Click here to join the Sun Oct 19 Play Day
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