Vince Anderson 12/30/25 Vince Anderson 12/30/25

Sharpen Up!

The early season climbing has been good so far, but as always there are places where the ice is thin. Normally we can see these and tread lightly, but if you’ve been climbing long enough, eventually you’ll feel that unmistakable sensation of the “doink!” where your ice ax goes through the thin ice and strikes the underlying rock. Let’s go over some tips for how to sharpen your ice tools and keep them at peak performance.

Micah Lewkowitz 10/31/25 Micah Lewkowitz 10/31/25

How to Ice climb efficiently

Learn and improve fundamental ice climbing techniques so you can be a confident ice climber and avoid pumping out as the routes gets steeper.

Micah Lewkowitz 10/2/25 Micah Lewkowitz 10/2/25

Ice Climbing Strength Training: Exercises for sending this winter

Build ice climbing specific strength in the off season with these fundamental exercises. Get ready for winter and start your training routine now.

Micah Lewkowitz 8/27/25 Micah Lewkowitz 8/27/25

How to make tape gloves for crack climbing: A Step-By-Step tutorial

Interested in crack climbing? Learn how to protect your skin and make durable tape gloves for crack climbing and check out a comparison of manufactured crack gloves.

Micah Lewkowitz 6/17/25 Micah Lewkowitz 6/17/25

The Action Suit - A guide to Layering For Alpine Climbing

High output activity during cold temperatures requires a versatile clothing system. Learn the ins and outs of layering for the demands of alpine climbing.

Vince Anderson 5/12/25 Vince Anderson 5/12/25

Strategies for Climbing In the Black Canyon

Colorado’s world famous Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (aka The Black) is known for its outstanding natural beauty and concentration of wonderfully challenging multi-pitch traditional rock climbs. Perhaps the most well known of these is the aptly named Scenic Cruise, included in Steck and Roper’s “Fifty Classic Climbs of North America”. Learn strategies for climbing the classic Scenic Cruise and other routes in the Black Canyon…

Steven Van Sickle 1/12/25 Steven Van Sickle 1/12/25

Equipment Selection: HUT Based Ski Touring

Learn about the equipment and techniques for hut based ski touring in the Alps from IFMGA Guide, Steven Van Sickle.

Vince Anderson 12/9/24 Vince Anderson 12/9/24

Ice Climbing’s Dangerous Secret

Avalanches are a very real component to the risk management mindset when ice climbing. Vince Anderson shares his insight into the nuances of ice climbing in avalanche terrain, strategies for mitigating the hazard and restructuring our risk tolerance.

Vince Anderson 10/18/24 Vince Anderson 10/18/24

How To Climb Bird Brain Boulevard

Bird Brain Boulevard is an iconic mixed climb above Ouray, Colorado. Vince Anderson shares strategies, key beta and insight into how to climb this challenging test-piece.

Katie Beringer 4/25/22 Katie Beringer 4/25/22

Spring Training Tips

Set your goals, build your aerobic base, and train all spring long!

Katie Beringer 2/15/22 Katie Beringer 2/15/22

Tips for packing for multi-pitch ice

When I first started venturing into longer winter climbing days, packing for multi-pitch ice climbs was overwhelming. I didn’t want to bring too much that it might weigh me down climbing, but I didn’t want to bring too little that I couldn’t stay warm.

Vince Anderson 11/10/21 Vince Anderson 11/10/21

Dark Arts

Let’s face it, dry tooling by its essence is weird. You’re scratching around on rock with sharp, hook shaped claws on your hands and feet, and for your hands they’re on the end of sticks giving you significant extra reach.

Rob Pizem 8/14/21 Rob Pizem 8/14/21

Do shoes matter when crack climbing? Yes!

Have you ever tried to run a marathon in a pair of ski boots? Wearing the wrong crack climbing shoe can make your life just as miserable.

Resources