Lining Them Up!

Our sponsors are getting ready to represent at the Ice Fest! The list of companies that want to be involved this year looks awesome! They'll have demo gear available for climbers who are visiting for the weekend and for clients who are ready to climb and learn! We are talking boots, crampons, axes, tools, helmets, and clothing. Demo's will be available throughout the festival!

It's starting to look like winter...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the snow is falling... IMCS owner Brad White got out to sample the ice in Tucks recently and he is happy to report that the season is shaping up nicely. Let's cross our fingers for more! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Majka Burhardt to be a guest guide!

Author, climber, and guide Majka Burhardt is coming to Ice Fest! Majka, an AMGA-certified guide from Colorado Mountain School, will be leading several women's climbing clinics during the festival and will be opening up one of the slide show evenings. Majka's presentation, "Ice Again," will tell her story of returning to ice climbing after a ten year hiatus. Majka is a writer and guide whose column, Whipped, in Climbing Magazine often presents the human (read fallible) side of climbing. She brings that same self-deprecation to her slide shows. Find out what happens when she exports herself straight from height of heat in Cape Town, South Africa to the barrel of winter cold and claws her way back into the frozen world.

update: CANCELED Kitty Calhoun to lead climbing clinics

UPDATE: Unfortunately Kitty won't be able to make it out to Ice Fest this year due to a scheduling conflict. Hopefully the amazingly talented and fun Zoe Hart will be able to come and teach our women's steep ice clinics---stay tuned for more info as we track Zoe down and work out the details. Still hoping to climb with Kitty? Check out Chicks With Picks. They'll be in North Conway later in February.

Patagonia ambassador Kitty Calhoun will be leading climbing clinics and helping to demo Patagonia gear throughout the festival. Kitty is a familiar face at Ice Fest and we're looking forward to her returning this year. Want to climb with Kitty? Call the IMCS office: 603-356-7064 today to book your spot!

Raffle & silent auction benefit announced!

We are pleased to announce that the proceeds from this year's Ice Fest raffle and silent auction will go to a scholarship fund for the IMCS Youth Rock Camp. IMCS runs a six-day Youth Rock Camp every summer in the White Mountains. This year we hope to have enough funds to give at least one aspiring climber from the Mount Washington Valley area a chance to attend the Youth Rock Camp with a full scholarship ($1,250.00 tuition). If you would like more information about the scholarship or would like to make a direct donation, please contact IMCS president Brad White. If you would like to make a donation to the raffle and silent auction, please contact Ice Fest event coordinator Sarah Garlick.

Colin Haley to give slide show!

He's funny, he's fun, and he's also a world-class bad-ass. Seriously. We're stoked to have Colin Haley skip a few classes from his senior year at University of Washington to come play on the ice with us. Colin will present a slide show about his ascent with Kelly Cordes of a 1,400-meter ice route up the side of Cerro Torre. Thank you Patagonia and Black Diamond for sending Colin to Ice Fest!

Get Psyched!

A little inspiration this morning from photographer Jimmy Surette (www.GraniteFilms.com): Jo Josephson on the Cathedral Ledge classic Repentance.

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Thursday, February 7
8:00am – 8:30am: Gear check and registration confirmation for participants.
8:30am – 4:00pm: Guided climbs and clinics.
8:30am – 5:00pm: Sponsor demo booth set-up.
8:30am – 11:00am: Demo booths open to the public.

Friday, February 8
6:30am – 7:30am: Climbers’ Breakfast: Cranmore Ski Resort’s Eating House.
8:00am – 11:00am: Demo booths open to the public.
8:30am – 4:00pm: Guided climbs and clinics.
4:30pm – 6:30pm: The MAMMUT Après Climb Party at I.M.E.: Beer and snacks served. Open to the public.
7:30pm: Ice climbing slideshows by MARK RICHEY and COLIN HALEY, and gear raffle at the Cranmore Ski Resort’s Eating House (restaurant and bar will be open).

Saturday, February 9
6:30am – 7:30am: Climbers’ Breakfast: Cranmore Ski Resort’s Eating House.
8:00am – 11:00am: Demo booths open to the public.
8:30am – 4:00pm: Guided climbs and clinics.
7:30pm: Ice climbing slideshows by ??????? and ???????, and gear raffle at the Cranmore Ski Resort’s Eating House (restaurant and bar will be open).

Sunday, February 10
8:00am – 11:00am: Demo booths open to the public.
8:30am – 4:00pm: Guided climbs and clinics.
4:30pm: Demo gear returned and booths taken down.

Mark Richey to give slide show

Good news! Top alpinist, international adventurer, past AAC president, and New England climber Mark Richey is on board to give a slide show on Friday night, February 8. Stay tuned for
more details about Mark's Ice Fest show...

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog of the Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival! We're gearing up for a great event. Keep checking back here for updates and details.