January 11, 2019
Guide Training Ouray, CO (Justin Merle)
This past week, I and several IMG guides joined Chief Guide Justin Merle & Mark Ripperger in Ouray, Colorado to hone our ice guiding skills.
We spent Day 1 in the Ouray Ice Park building safe and efficient anchor systems, selecting appropriate instructional terrain, and refining teaching techniques and movement skills in a vertical ice environment. Of course, there was time to improve our personal climbing skills as well! The weather was pleasant, and the ice sticky!
IMG Guide Training on the mixed route ‘Slippery When Wet’ – Ouray Ice Park (Justin Merle)
The second day featured multi-pitch ice guiding techniques in the backcountry. This begins before we even head out the door; gathering weather and avalanche information we use for effective risk management throughout the day. We practiced pacing, anchors, transitions, and travel strategies designed to mitigate risk while maximizing comfort, climbing and fun!
I don’t recall all of the climbs we did, but I do recall Slippery When Wet, the first pitch of Skylight, Unknown Drytool Route, and Slip Sliding Away on day 2 at Camp Bird Mine road.
Come on out and join us in Ouray or New England – there’s plenty of ice for everyone!
IMG Guide Nicole Sims