In January 2008, we hosted our very first Waterfall Ice Climbing and Rescue Workshop. This sold-out workshop was such a resounding success that we decided to reschedule it again in January, 2009.

Waterfall Ice is one of the most unique mediums you will ever have to face as a rescue respondent. It can be brittle, plastic-like, soupy, and bullet hard - all on the same day. Moving safely and efficiently over this type of terrain is a combination of experience, skill and most importantly good judgement.

Rigging for Rescue's home base of Ouray, Colorado is one of the world's premier ice climbing destinations. Ouray is home to the Ouray Ice Park which hosts over 150 ice climbs in a narrow gorge just minutes walking distance from town proper. Additionally, the surrounding San Juan Mountains are choked with frozen waterfalls throughout the winter months.

The Waterfall Ice Climbing and Rescue Workshop is a specialized training seminar focusing on the techniques and subtleties of ice climbing and waterfall ice rescue practices. Topics will include anchor placements and evaluation, climbing techniques, bottom-up rescue, pickoffs, companion rescue, terrain evaluation, multi-pitch techniques and transitions, the use of deflection lines to deviate around hazardous terrain, team movement on ice and much more. If you or your team works or plays in areas that are home to waterfall ice, this is a workshop that you won't want to miss.

The Rigging for Rescue instructors slated for this workshop are also ice climbing guides based out of Ouray, Colorado with an abundance of experience in this highly specific medium. You won't find a better place than Ouray for increasing your personal waterfall ice climbing and terrain evaluation skills.

We'll begin at 19:00 on Sunday, January 18 for an initial 'meet & greet' and workshop introduction. The training will continue for five full days. This workshop will include low participant-to-instructor ratios and a classroom located right in the heart of the Ouray Ice Park.