PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST FOR AN IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION TOWARDS THE END

OK, let me start this by saying that the regular price for  intermediate ice climbing classes is is between 450.00 and 500.00 because you get one instructor for every 3 people.  SMG is giving it to us for 310.00 bucks. RIDICULOUS. That’s with all the equipment included, for two days of private instruction at the Lee Vining/ June Lake in the sierras, which is less than 5 hours away. Perfect, perfect, perfect!! Those guys love us and they are awesome!!!

Over 40 people in our group have taken the beginning ice climbing and a lot of people already have a little ice climbing experience, so let's take it to the next level and take Intermediate Ice Climbing! 

This is the class we need in order to start going out there by ourselves. A must if you want to continue exploring ice climbing. Two weeks after this class I'm planning on going on our first solo trip. 

Here is the description of the class from their website:

This two day advanced course is geared toward those who have taken our Ice Climbing 101 course, or have previous ice climbing experience.  We'll explore techniques used for climbing steeper, more difficult ice and the systems used for multi-pitch ice climbing. This class places an emphasis on the natural and artificial methods of ice protection, as well as the construction and evaluation of ice anchors.  This is a fun weekend with lots of opportunity for climbing and practice building anchors. Our Protection and Anchoring class is a great jumpstart on the curriculum!

Topics Covered:

• Steeper ice climbing
• Multi pitch climbing basics
• Ice protection
• Anchor building and evaluation

Prerequisites:

• Discover Ice Climbing course or equivalent experience. Some climbing experience is necessary, with a understanding of basic knots, belaying, and rappelling.

Includes:

• All climbing equipment:
  • Harness
  • Helmet
  • Belay Device
  • Boots
  • Ice Tools
  • Crampons
• All group equipment (ropes, protection, etc.)
• AMGA trained and/or certified guide
• All necessary permits

Not included:

• Lunch/drinks

We should get there on Friday night so that we can be ready to go at 7. Of course we'll need a hotel for Saturday night too. I haven’t made any reservations, but rooms will run about 60-70 bucks and we can put up to 4 people in each room. If some are willing to bring their sleeping bag and crash on the floor, we may put even more people and save some money, since we'll just use the room to sleep. I'll let you guys arrange carpool and rooming yourselves. Just post on the comments that you are looking for carpool and roommates.

They have two guides available to us that weekend, so can have 6 people, and that's it. If we get more than 6 people they can do another group the following weekend, so if the trip if full, please put your name on the waiting list so I can see if we have enough people for a second group. Also, if you put your name on the waiting list, please let me know you would be willing to go the following weekend.

As always I need the payment immediately when you RSVP. I’m posting this on a few groups, so I can’t be chasing people for money. If you RSVP and don’t pay, I will have to remove your RSVP so you can go back and pay. I'm not mad, and I'm not kicking you out; but if you lose your spot because someone else RSVPd before you came back, there is nothing I can do. That has already happened quite a few times in different trips I put together and it’s heartbreaking. So please, make sure to pay right way. If you want to RSVP and don’t have the money right now, e mail me, and I may be able to get you in and have you pay me a little later (a little; I have to send them the payment soon to guarantee our spot). I’m tacking the pay pal fee to the price: $10.00, so the total price will be $320.00.

CLICK HERE TO PAY

Now, because of the price they are giving us, if someone has an odd shoe size or if we have too many people with the same shoe size, some people MAY have to rent their own shoes. They are about 20 bucks. Last year I think only two people had to do it out of 24 that took the classes, so most people will be OK, but I want to give you the heads up. Still, even if you have to rent your own shoes, you're getting an amazing deal. The sooner I let them know what size shoes we need, the more likely it is that they will be able to find it, so please make sure to answer the shoe size question once you RSVP.

Another possiblity, depending on snowfall is that we might need to bring snowshoes. They have a whole bunch, and many of us have our own. But chances (very slim) are you may have to rent them if you don't own a pair already. I don't think that will be a problem. Last year we didn't need them and even if we had needed them, they had enough. But say we end up with a group of 18 for this one class (last year we had two 12-people classes) and nobody has their own snowshoes, and they get some snowfall a few days before, then you may have to rent them. I think they are 6 bucks. Again, I'm just making sure we're all in the same page so nobody feels misled or under-informed. 

All right, let me know if you have any questions. 

Let's go climb some ice!