2009 North American Ice Climbing Fests

A variety of ice festivals are scheduled in the United State and Canada for 2009. Most include clinics for a variety of skill levels (even some for kids), gear demos, slide shows, and social events. Contact the organizers of each ice fest for specific event schedules, registration, and all other information.

Comp Climber at 2006 Ouray Ice Festival

(photo credit: Lora Slawitschka)

January 9-11, 2009
Ouray Ice Festival (Ouray, Colo.)
The 14th annual Ouray Ice Festival offers 80+ clinics, climbing competitions, slide shows, nightly parties, dinners, auctions, and the 5th annual Kids Climbing College, which introduces kids of all ages to ice climbing.
www.ourayicefestival.com

January 16-18, 2009
Adirondack International Mountainfest (Keene Valley, N.Y.)
The 13th annual Mountainfest features climbing clinics, gear demos, an avalanche class, slideshows and presentations, and Telluride Mountainfilm festival's opening-night presentation of ice climbing and mountaineering films.
www.mountaineer.com/mountainfest

January 30-February 1, 2009
Michigan Ice Climbing Festival (Munising, Mich.)
The 26th annual Michigan Ice Fest features instructional courses and clinics, opportunities to demo the latest climbing equipment and clothing, slideshows, and a climbing social.
www.downwindsports.com/ice_fest.html

January 30-February 1, 2009
Smugglers’ Notch Ice Bash (Jeffersonville, Vt.)
The 3rd annual Smuggs Ice Bash will feature mixed and ice clinics, gear demos, a warming hut, and more. Demo the latest ice gear from tools to screws to crampons. Join clinics from beginner ice climbing to companion rescue to steep and mixed.
www.sunriseadventuresports.com

Mixed Comp Climber at 2006 Ouray Ice Festival

(photo credit: Lora Slawitschka)

February 5-8, 2009
Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival (North Conway, N.H.)
The 16th annual Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival is a weekend of ice bashing, climbing and rescue clinics for all skill levels, gear demo programs, celebrity slideshows, and après climb parties.
www.ime-usa.com/ice_festival

February 13-16, 2009
Water Fall Ice Festival (Cody, Wyo.)
The 11th annual Water Fall Ice Fest features on-ice clinics from world renowned guides and climbers, contests, comps, demos, and more.
www.southforkice.com

March 2009
Nipigon Ice Fest (Nipigon, Ontario)
www.nipigonicefest.com

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