2026 Ouray Ice Fest Clinics & Seminars
The 2026 Ouray Ice Festival will be held on Friday January 23rd through Sunday January 25th. San Juan Mountain Guides will host week day clinics Monday January 19th- Thursday January 22nd. Our weekend clinics will be available for sale on the Ouray Ice Park’s website. If you experience issues, please contact icefestclinics@mtnguide.net. Become a member of the Ouray Ice Park and sign up for exclusive deals and discounts!! Click here to purchase your Ouray Ice Park Membership today!! 
HOW TO SHOP AND REGISTER FOR THE CLINICS
- New in 2026, the Ouray Ice Park is responsible for ticket sales of the Ouray Ice Festival
- You may shop clinics here and follow the hyper links to check out.
- Please reach out to at icefestclinics@mtnguide.net with any questions or last minute requests.
- All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds.
ESSENTIAL INFO
- How to register: You will register and pay online, then receive tickets via email shortly afterwards. This means you registered for the clinics listed in the emails containing tickets. If you need to make changes to your registration, please contact us at icefestclinics@mtnguide.net and provide your order confirmation number, the clinic name and number, and the name of the attendee(s).
- Liability Waiver: The first time you purchase tickets, you will receive a welcome email from San Juan Mountain Guides. There will be a prompt to fill out our Acknowledgement of Risks and Liability Waiver Online. This must be done prior to the start of the Ouray Ice Festival or your space in the clinics will not be confirmed!!
- Refund Policy: Please note that there are no refunds for Ouray Ice Festival Clinics. If you need to cancel your clinic registration, please notify us by email and we will do our best to re-list your clinic spot so that it can be filled prior to the start of the ice fest. You will need to check back in with us after the ice fest to determine if we were able to fill your spot. If we are able to fill your spot, a voucher towards a future trip with SJMG (less a 20% re-booking fee) may be issued
- Where to Meet Your Athlete: Meet your athlete at the sponsor booth listed on this website 20 minutes prior to start. Please check this website the day before your clinic to confirm where to meet as sponsors and athletes may change.
CLINIC & SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS
Clinics ($199) are 3 hours long. Seminars ($299) are 5.5 hours long. The number of participants varies with ticket sales but are generally 8 participants to a clinic or seminar. Clinics and Seminars are instructed by one Sponsor Athlete and one San Juan Mountain Guide. Clinics are held in the South Park, 2 Eyed Dog, Schoolroom, Kids Wall, Scottish Gullies, Stump Wall, Gazebo Wall, Shithouse Wall, and Five Fingers. These areas are closed to the public January 23rd until 12pm on January 25th. The New Funtier, Lead-Only Area, and Deep South are available for public climbing.
AT THE ICE FEST:
Sponsors will provide demo boots, crampons, harnesses, helmets, ice tools, and belay devices. To demo gear, you must purchase a gear card here. Make sure you have all your gear together at least 20 minutes before the start of your clinic. It can take up to an hour to gather all your gear so please arrive to the Vendor Village well in advance of your clinic start time. We recommend you bring your own gear as well if you have it, especially harness and helmet.
Once you have all your gear together, go to the tent of the Sponsor. The sponsor of your clinic can be found on this website! For example, if you
registered for Clinic 1 Learn to Lead with Connor Chilcott Fri 0900 – Go to the Grivel tent (as Grivel is the sponsor listed on our website) at 0840 with your gear. Sign the Liability Waiver in advance of the clinic! If you are unsure where to go, please visit the San Juan Mountain Guide booth and we will locate your registration.
REQUIRED PARTICIPANT EQUIPMENT LIST
- UIAA Certified Climbing Helmet
- UIAA Certified Climbing Harness
- 2 Ice Tools
- Crampons
- Ice Climbing Boots
- Belay Device and locking Carabiner
Monday January 19th- Thursday January 22nd, 2026 – Full Day Seminars
| Seminar# | Day | Time | Sponsor | Athlete |  |
Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
M1
|
Mon
|
0630-1500
|
 |
Katie Beringer
|
Backcountry Ice Climbing
2:1 guided multi-pitch ice climb in Ouray. Suitable for those climbing WI4-5.
|
|
|
M2
|
Mon
|
0630-1300
|
|
Rostyn Hamilton
|
Backcountry Intro to Ice
Learn or refresh the fundamentals of ice climbing in the solitude of the backcountry. Suitable for beginners.
|
|
|
T1
|
Tues
|
0630-1500
|
|
James Kan
|
Backcountry Ice Climbing
2:1 guided multi-pitch ice climb in Ouray. Suitable for those climbing WI4-5.
|
|
|
T2
|
Tues
|
0630-1300
|
|
Jeff Mascaro
|
Backcountry Intro to Ice
Learn or refresh the fundamentals of ice climbing in the solitude of the backcountry. Suitable for beginners.
|
|
|
W1
|
Wed
|
0730-1530
|
|
James Kan
|
Backcountry Ice Climbing
2:1 guided multi-pitch ice climb in Ouray. Suitable for those climbing WI4-5.
|
|
| W2 | Wed | 0730-1530 | |
Nick Lozica |
Backcountry Intro to Ice
Learn or refresh the fundamentals of ice climbing in the solitude of the backcountry. Suitable for beginners.
|
|
| W3 | Wed | 0630-1300 | |
Jesse Ballew |
Intro to Ice
Learn the fundamentals of ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. Suitable for beginners. |
|
| W4 | Wed | 0630-1300 | |
Jeff Mascaro |
Intermediate Ice
Learn to climb progressively steeper ice with efficiency and confidence. Terrain difficulty will be on routes in the WI 4/5 range.
|
|
| W5 | Wed | 0730-1530 | |
Rostyn Hamilton |
Basic Self Rescue
Learn or review the basics of self-rescue like hauling, ascending, load transfers.
|
|
| Th1 | Thurs | 0730-1530 | |
Rostyn Hamilton |
Backcountry Ice Climbing
2:1 guided multi-pitch ice climb in Ouray. Suitable for those climbing WI4-5.
|
|
| Th2 | Thurs | 0730-1530 | |
Jesse Ballew |
Backcountry Intro to Ice
Learn or refresh the fundamentals of ice climbing in the solitude of the backcountry. Suitable for beginners.
|
|
| Th3 | Thurs | 0630-1500 | |
Nick Lozica |
Intro to Ice
Learn the fundamentals of ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. Suitable for beginners. |
|
| Th4 | Thurs | 0700-1500 | |
Joe Kinner |
Intermediate Ice
Learn to climb progressively steeper ice with efficiency and confidence. Terrain difficulty will be on routes in the WI 4/5 range.
|
|
| Th5 | Thurs | 0730-1530 | |
James Kan |
Learn to Lead Ice
Learn the basics of leading in a mock lead scenario. Takes place in the Ouray Ice Park.
|
|
| Th6 | Thurs | 0730-1530 | |
Jeff Mascaro |
Alpine Strategies
Learn the basics of ice climbing, ice anchors, alpine anchors, and steep snow. Takes place in the Ouray Ice Park.
|
Friday January 23rd 2026
| Seminar# | Day | Time | Sponsor | Athlete | |
Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Matt Cornell
|
Intermediate Ice |
|
|
2
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Kevin Lindlau
|
Novice Ice
Kevin, who recently climbed the world’s hardest dry tooling route Aleitheia D16, is offering a novice ice climbing course. This course is suitable for participants with no climbing or ice climbing experience. |
|
|
3
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Santiago Vega
|
Steep Ice
This is the perfect course for ice climbers hoping to try steeper ice and learn efficient movement strategies that force them out of the triangle. |
|
|
4
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Aaron Mulkey
|
Intro to Ice |
|
|
5
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
|
Allie Oaks
|
Intro to Ice
This year Ouray Ice Park is proud to host Allie Oaks, first ascenscionist of “Nothing is as it Seams” M6+ WI5, conqueror of ambitious Alaskan routes on Mt Huntington, and occasional ice soloist. Her Intro to ice covers the basics of ice climbing movement and is suitable for all levels. |
|
|
6
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
 |
John Rosskelley
|
Full Day – Intro to Ice
Participants will receive ice climbing movement instruction on friendly routes. |
|
|
7
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
|
Nick Lozica
|
Full Day – Intro to Alpinism
Nick, an accomplished alpinist across Alaska, California and Colorado, instructs a course that covers technical systems used for longer alpine objectives. |
|
|
8
|
Fri
|
0900-1200
|
|
Theresa Silveyra |
Full Day – Intermediate Ice
Standing at a proud 4’11, Theresa is a rockstar alpinist hailing from Washington. Participants learn to climb progressively steeper ice, suitable for participants looking for WI4/+ |
|
|
9
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Mo Beck
|
Full Day – Women’s Intro to Ice
Calling all ladies to come join the charismatic, witty, but ever instructional 10X national champion Mo Beck for Intro to Ice. Participants will learn the basics of ice climbing movement. This course is suitable for those who identify as women and consider themselves beginners. |
|
|
10
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Jeff Mascaro
|
Full Day – Intro to Multipitch Ice
Certified Rock and Alpine guide and Tech Tip guru, Jeff will be teaching a course of multipitch ice climbing. Participants will have an opportunity to build anchors and bring up climbers as in a multipitch environment (while on top rope). Most suitable for participants with previous ice climbing experience.
|
|
|
11
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Dale Remsburg
|
Self Rescue in Ice Climbing
The master instructor, Dale Remsburg, is back and teaching the core technical skills required for any climber in an emergency situation. Suitable for participants with a basic understanding of climbing systems (belaying from above, rappeling, lowering) |
|
|
12
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Tammy Faye |
Shortcuts for Alpine Objectives
Shortcuts for Alpine Objectives covers some advanced techniques for moving quickly in the mountains as well as lots of laps on WI4 routes. |
|
|
13
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Kevin Lindlau
|
Intermediate Ice
Learn to climb progressively steeper ice, suitable for participants looking for WI4/+ |
|
|
14
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Allie Oaks
|
Women’s Intro to Ice
Ladies to the front! Join Alllie Oaks, first ascenscionist of “Nothing is as it Seams” M6+ WI5, conqueror of ambitious Alaskan routes on Mt Huntington, and occasional ice soloist as she teaches the basics of ice climbing movement. This course is suitable for beginner ice climbers who identify as women. |
|
|
15
|
Fri
|
1300-1600
|
|
Sam Elias
|
Intro to Ice
Star of the film Rooted, winner of the 2019 Ouray Climbing comp, crusher climber, and celebrated First Ascensionist, Sam is offering an intro to ice course which teaches the basics of ice climbing movement. It is suitable for all levels. |
Saturday January 24th, 2026
| Seminar# | Day | Time | Sponsor | Athlete | |
Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18
|
Sat
|
0900-1200
|
|
Thomas Bukowski
|
BIPOC & LGBTQ2SIA+ Ice Climbing Essentials |
|
|
19
|
Sat
|
0900-1200
|
|
Jake Baldwin
|
Shortcuts for Alpine Objectives |
|
|
21
|
Sat
|
0900-1200
|
|
Chris Snobeck
|
Intro to Ice with Ice Screws |
|
|
22
|
Sat
|
0900-1200
|
Osprey
|
Jeff Mascaro |
Full Day – Intro to Ice |
|
|
23
|
Sat
|
0930-1500
|
|
Matt Cornell
|
Full Day – Intro to Alpinism |
|
|
24
|
Sat
|
0930-1500
|
|
Theresa Silveyra
|
Full Day – Intermediate Ice |
|
|
25
|
Sat
|
0930-1500
|
 |
Margo Talbot |
Full Day – Women’s Intermediate Ice
A pioneer for women in ice climbing, and an accomplished expedition guide, Margo has climbed all over the Canadian Rockies, being one of the primary contributers to the guidebook ‘Ice Climbs in the Canadian Rockies.’ Come improve your movement on WI4/5 climbs with the best of the best. This course is suitable for participants that identify as women. |
|
|
26
|
Sat
|
0930-1500
|
 |
Dale Remsburg
|
Full Day – Intro to Multipitch Ice |
|
|
27
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Rostyn Hamilton
|
Steep Ice |
|
|
28
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Allie Oaks
|
Women’s Intermediate Ice |
|
|
29
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Santiago Vega
|
Novice Ice |
|
|
30
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Sam Elias |
Intermediate Ice |
|
|
31
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Jake Baldwin
|
Funky Ice for Beginners |
|
|
32
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
|
Joe Kinner
|
Shortcuts for Alpine Objectives |
|
|
33
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
 |
Mo Beck
|
Intro to Ice with Ice Screw Placements
Don’t miss instruction with Mo Beck, the 10X national champion and 2 time gold medalist in the paraclimbing World Cup. Participants will receive ice climbing movement instruction on friendly routes with the added bonus of instruction for placing ice screws. All ability levels are welcome. |
|
|
34
|
Sat
|
1300-1600
|
 |
Chris Snobeck
|
The Perfect Swing |
Sunday January 25th, 2026
| Seminar# | Day | Time | Sponsor | Athlete | |
Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
35
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Kevin Lindau
|
Learning to Read Ice |
|
|
37
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
 |
Kiersa Koepnick
|
Adventure Photography: Ice Climbing |
|
|
38
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
Margo Talbot
|
Intro to Ice |
|
|
39
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
Matt Cornell
|
Intro to Alpinism
No one is better suited for intro to alpinism than the pro-athlete accomplishiong speed records (Slovak Direct) and first ascents (Jannu) all over the world. This course covers technical systems used for longer alpine objectives. |
|
|
40
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
Jake Baldwin
|
Intermediate Ice |
|
|
41
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
Theresa Silveyra
|
Women’s Intermediate Ice
Standing at a proud 4’11, Theresa is a rockstar alpinist hailing from Washington. Ladies come learn to climb progressively steeper ice, suitable for participants looking for WI4/+ |
|
|
43
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
Nick Lozica
|
Shortcuts for Alpine Objectives |
|
|
44
|
Sun
|
0900-1200
|
|
John Roskelley
|
Focus on Footwork |
