Rock Climbing & Adventure Camp

Christmas Break Ice Camp!

Call 1-888-232-9559 to Register or for more informations!

Post a flyer at your climbing gym or school

Welcome to Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School and our IcePro Climbing Camp programs. Our climbing camps offer focused instruction only available from specialized climbing schools or professional guides.

Get psyched for ice - the newest addition to the youth climbing camp program. IcePro camp is for high school age students who are serious about learning to climb ice and to winter camp. The camp is based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the heart of New England's best front country ice climbing. This is an action camp focused on getting out climbing and learning new skills every day. Climbers can expect to learn a variety of techniques for climbing ice from low angle French techniques to efficient movement up the steepest vertical lines. We will also spend a day learning snow climbing skills, self arrest and the basics of avalanche awareness.   During the week there will be opportunities for both single and multi-pitch ice climbing. Climbers will gain an excellent understanding of the demands of climbing and living in a winter environment while spending a week immersed in a New England winter.

No previous ice climbing experience is required. Campers should have prior rock climbing experience that includes outdoor climbing. This camp is a group living experience and all campers are expected to share in the day to day tasks of camp and meal preparation.   The course is open to any graduate of one or more of our RockPro Camps. For those who have not participated in our RockPro camps, we require a short interview to help us both have a better understanding of your skills and the camp's itinerary.

Sample itinerary :

Day 1:   Snow skills: using crampons and ice axes, self arrest, snow climbing skills, recognizing avalanche terrain, understanding avalanche hazard postings, learning avalanche transceiver use. Tentative location: Tuckerman Ravine.

Day 2:   Low angle ice techniques: French flat foot methods, ice anchors, rappelling on ice/rope retrieval. Multi-pitch climb on a classic climb like Willey's Slide or Cinema Gully.

Day 3: Climbing Steeper Ice:   front-pointing, resting, pick placement, reading the ice.

Day 4: Work on improving steep ice techniques on different terrain.

Day 5 - 6: Multi-pitch ice climbs on some of New England's famous routes such as Dracula, Standard, Pegasus, Chia, or possibly the Black Dike on Cannon.   Alternatively, campers who are adequately skilled may work on lead climbing skills under the guide's tutelage. Celebrate New Year's under the stars.

DATES:

December 27th, 2006 - January 1st, 2007.

AGE RANGE

13 - 18 year olds.

ICPRO TUITION RATES

$750.00           

RESERVATION, REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICIES:

A 50% deposit is required for registration unless special arrangements have been made or you have an external scholarship. Balance due three weeks (21 days) before the beginning of program. Fifty percent (50%) of deposit is refundable if cancellation is made more than 21 days in advance. Cancellations made within twenty-one (21) days of program forfeit full tuition rate. A full refund will be given if Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School must cancel the course. Payment may be made by MC/VISA, Discover, cash or personal checks. There is a $20.00 charge for returned checks. To register, simply call us toll free at 1-888-232-9559.

RISKS :   As in any activity, participants will encounter risk in this program. Adventure sports such as rock climbing, ice climbing, rafting, hiking and canoeing can be dangerous! While these risks can be minimized through instructor training and leadership, they can never be eliminated. It is our goal to maximize your learning while minimizing the risks. Some of the risks include but are not limited to extreme weather, ice fall, avalanche, travel to and from the activity, typical hazards of trails, falling rocks and other objects, cuts, abrasions, entanglements burns and other injuries from falls and contact with climbing ropes and the climbing surface, and falls associated with walking on slippery surfaces and near cliff edges. Minor cuts and scrapes are likely. Campers (and their parents) should have a full understanding of climbing risks prior to lead climbing.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS :   The primary instructor for course will be Walter Archer. Some campers will remember Wally as one of their leaders in 2005. Wally has a special affinity for ice. He spent last summer instructing ice climbing on Alaskan glaciers so we thought this would be the perfect trip for him. Wally is an American Mountain Guides Association certified Top Rope Site Manager, a Wilderness First Responder and registered Maine Guide. Wally may be joined by other AMG staff including owner Jon Tierney, an internationally licensed IFMGA Mountain Guide, Silas Rossi, Peter Doucette or Mark Vermeal. The course ratio is 4:1 for most activities and 2:1 for multi-pitch climbing.

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School is based in Bar Harbor and Orono, ME. Started in 1993, it is Maine's only climbing school that is accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association - the organization that oversees the training, certification and operational standards of climbing instructors and guides in America.   Director Jon Tierney has over 30 years of climbing and wilderness leadership experience and has been teaching outdoors locally for over twenty years. He is one of 38 internationally licensed mountain guides (IFMGA) working in the U.S. - the highest level of mountain guide training and certification available worldwide. Jon co-founded and directed the University of Maine outdoor program for seventeen years. AMGCS provides climbing, ropes course, high angle rescue, wilderness medicine and leadership training to a variety of groups, camps, and schools.   We are also the curriculum author and #1 provider of the American Mountain Guides Association climbing instructor training and certification course.

AMGCS offers a full range of climbing courses from half-day introductory trips to high altitude mountaineering expeditions. Visit www.AcadiaMountainGuides.com for a complete listing of courses.

CONTACTING PARTICIPANTS:   Contact with the climbing camp will be unpredictable, as cell phone technology does not reach many of the areas where the group will be. If there is a family emergency that requires contacting a participant, you should call our Orono office, 207-866-7562. The office will be in contact with the group once a day. Evening emergency phone numbers if needed are: Jon Tierney, school owner (cell: 207-461-4338, home 207-866-7562)

MEETING / PICK UP LOCATIONS:   A meeting and departure location and time will be determined based on travel needs of campers. Transportation to the climbing areas will be via van.

MEALS: Nutritious meals will be provided by Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School and prepared by participants with the help of the instructors. If a participant has special dietary needs, please notify the office prior to the course.  

THINGS TO DO PRIOR:   Please fill out health, liability, and gear forms and return them to our office.

QUESTIONS?   Please contact our office by phone (207-866-7562) or email climb@acadiamountainguides.com

EQUIPMENT PURCHASES

All campers receive a 20% equipment rental discount for camp and a 10% discount on all current and future purchases of outdoor equipment and climbing gear at our retail store, Alpenglow Adventure Sports. Stores are located in Bar Harbor and Orono, ME. Mail and internet orders welcomed. See attached equipment list.   LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED AND WE WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!

Visit www.AlpenglowGear.com for great closeouts as well.