Ice Climbing Boulder Colorado

go ice climbing near boulder colorado with a professional climbing guide

Alpine to the Max is an independent, professionally certified guide service run by an experienced group of AMGA-certified guides. If you're interested in ice climbing to continue climbing year-round and challenge yourself like never before, we can put together a custom ice climbing experience for you to ensure an unforgettable day in the Rockies.

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Alpine to the max is an Experienced ice climbing guide in Boulder, Colorado

Based in Boulder and offering guided ice climbing instruction in the most popular venues Colorado has to offer, Alpine to the Max is the only ice climbing guide in the state dedicated to experience and education.

Meaning when you go ice climbing with Alpine to the Max, you're not only going to get an incredible day in the Rockies, but you will also receive custom instruction from our guides tailored to your current skill level and objectives for the day.

With over a decade of experience providing custom ice climbing instruction at some of the top venues near Denver, Alpine to the Max can put together a custom-tailored day of instruction for you so that you gain ice climbing skills that will last a lifetime.

How Our Guided Ice Climbing Experience in Boulder works for beginner climbers

Ice climbing is the best way to continue honing your climbing skills in an outdoor environment year-round. There's no doubt about it. An indoor environment of a climbing gym just can't compare to the breathtaking experience the mountains offer during the winter.

Whether you have past rock climbing experience or not, Alpine to the Max offers a variety of ice climbing lessons perfectly suited to beginners. You can be sure that the instruction you receive will ensure an experience that is as safe as possible and aimed at teaching you fundamental concepts & techniques. All ages, physical abilities, and fitness levels are welcome.

Even if you've gone rock climbing in the past (and are perhaps fairly experienced) ice climbing is a completely different medium. The harsh winter environment and gear intensive nature of ice climbing will make for a mountain experience unlike anything you've ever experienced before.

But if that sounds exciting to you, then you're in the right place. With custom ice climbing instruction from Alpine to the Max, you can continue climbing during the winter months and ascend into an elite level of climbers.

What experienced climbers can gain from ice climbing near boulder colorado with alpine to the max

If you're an experienced climber practicing both rock and ice climbing disciplines year round, then that means you live, breath, and sleep climbing. To get to this level you've likely been at this for a few years now and are perhaps even self-sufficient.

So you may be asking yourself "what do I have to gain by ice climbing with Alpine to the Max?"

Well if you're here considering hiring a Colorado ice climbing guide, then you're likely looking to acquire a very specific skill, accomplish a certain objective on your bucket list, or have hit a plateau with your abilities and need the help of a guide with the technical knowledge necessary to get you over the hump.

Whatever the reasons, Alpine to the Max can provided you with hands-on instruction & coaching to solve whatever challenges you're facing.

Ice climbing instruction topics we can cover

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Ice and mixed climbing are essential disciplines to master if you're looking to climb year round in Colorado. Further, the skills learned through them are necessary for accessing many of the world's greatest mountain peaks. Below are just some of the topics we can cover when you go ice climbing with Alpine to the Max near Boulder, Colorado.

Intro to ice climbing

First time climbing in the winter? Learn everything you need to know in order to have a fantastic day out on the ice.

intro to Mountaineering

Learn how to use crampons and a mountain axe. On this educational day we will cover all the necessary equipment for mountaineering from proper layering systems to crampon and boot combinations and more.

custom ice objectives

Do you have a specific ice route that you want to climb? Alpine to the Max can guide you through a custom ice climbing objective. Anything that you want to do in the mountains we can help you get there.

Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue

Are you planning to climb a glaciated peak, such as Mount Rainier or Denali? This course will give you the knowledge of how to travel on glaciated terrain and rescue a partner if they fall into a crevasse.

learn to lead

Lead climbing on any medium is the ultimate expression of the sport. Max has over a decade of experience leading and teaching people to lead ice climbing and can help intermediate ice climbers take this critical next step in their journey.

multi pitch ice

Learning to climb multi-pitch ice is a critical skill for tackling technical routes on big mountains. Also, waterfall ice climbing is just really fun. This course is for experienced ice climbers looking to take their winter pursuits to new heights.

Join Our Community Of Adventurous ice Climbers

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Alpine to the Max is an independent certified guide with more than a decade of experience in a wide variety of terrain. No matter your current ice or mixed climbing skill level, when you climb with us you get a top-notch experience.

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“I climbed with Max last summer on a couple of couloirs in Rocky Mountain National Park. I’m a complete newbie to technical snow and Max was everything that I was hoping for in a guide. Knowledgeable, patient and passionate about educating his clients. It was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to go back out with him.”

William Rosenberg
About Your Ice Climbing Guide

Max Lurie is a Professional Boulder ice climbing guide

Max Lurie is the Owner and lead guide of Alpine to the Max. He is an American Mountain Guides Association certified rock and alpine guide with nearly two decades of experience providing climbing instruction across rock, ice, and alpine disciplines.

Max started his guiding career in New England and in the winter season he climbed as much ice as he possibly could in New Hampshire and Vermont. Guiding the many classic multi-pitch ice routes in Crawford Notch was how he spent the brutally cold winter months.

Traveling to the Pacific Northwest and working for International Mountain Guides on Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and in the North Cascades National Park Max quickly fell in love with that landscape. Over the course of many seasons, Max has summited Rainier nearly 100 times, not to mention ascents of other peaks.

Max now leads ice climbs during the winter months near Boulder at Rocky Mountain National Park and Clear Creek Canyon. Click the button below to watch a quick video to discover what Alpine to the Max is all about.

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Ice Climbing venues near boulder, co

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Alpine to the Max is an independent certified guide with more than a decade of experience in a wide variety of terrain. No matter your current skill level, when you climb with us you get a top-notch experience that is fully customized to meet your exact desires.

Rocky Mountain National Park

The spine of the continent. Rocky Mountain National Park needs no introduction. RMNP is home to some incredible mountaineering and climbing terrain. Depending on the season alpine rock climbing gives way to backcountry skiing, ice climbing and mountaineering. Test your systems and knowledge in this incredible national park.

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Clear Creek Canyon

Clear Creek Canyon is home to world class sport climbing. However, in the winter months there are several ice climbs that form. This venue is an excellent place for first time ice climbers and those looking to start leading ice.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ice climbing near boulder colorado

There's no doubt that ice climbing is a thrilling winter sport. However, its important that you are properly prepared for your day so that you can make the most of the experience. Here are answers to common questions we get before someone goes ice climbing with us for the first time.

How Long Is a Day of Ice Climbing? 
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The length of a day really depends on where we go and what our objectives are. For a big alpine day of ice climbing, it could be upwards of 12 hours. For a day of top roping or an intro course, it is usually 6-8 hours long.
How Much Does Ice Climbing Instruction Cost?
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The cost of a day of instruction depends on several factors. Such as what type of a day it is and how many participants are there. 

We have recently offered public group courses for our winter courses, which significantly decreased the cost for each individual. Please view the associated ice climbing cours pages for the most up to date pricing.
What Gear Do I Need To Go Ice Climbing? 
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Any winter activity does have a high barrier to entry for initial equipment. Alpine to the Max has a full fleet of crampons, ice tools, ice axes, harnesses and helmets. You will need to provide the rest. Namely, appropriate mountaineering boots and winter clothing. Every outing is different and we will set you up for success if you have any clothing questions before your scheduled outing.
Is Ice Climbing Available in Boulder? 
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Not in Boulder itself, but not far from it. There are several places to ice climb in the surrounding hills to the north and even south of Boulder. The most popular spots Alpine to the Max provides guided ice climbing instruction are is Clear Creek Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Can I Go Ice Climbing With a Group?
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Most definitely, learning to ice climb with a group of friends can be a really great and memorable experience. Not to mention that the price of tuition goes down per person with increased participants.