{"id":783,"date":"2014-02-28T15:05:03","date_gmt":"2014-02-28T22:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/?p=783"},"modified":"2022-02-10T09:19:46","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T09:19:46","slug":"skyward-mountaineering-winter-alpine-climbing-intensive-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/skyward-mountaineering-winter-alpine-climbing-intensive-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyward Mountaineering: Winter Alpine Climbing Intensive Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Skyward Mountaineering<\/a> is a guide service operated by alpinists Steve House and Vince Anderson. \u00a0In addition to offering guided climbs both locally and internationally, they also teach instructional workshops focusing on various aspects of climbing. \u00a0I was lucky enough to participate in their \u00a0three day Winter Alpine Climbing Intensive Workshop.<\/p>\n

The workshop took place in Ouray Colorado, from Monday to Wednesday. Including me, there were four students. \u00a0Steve and Vince were the instructors. \u00a0The first day was spent climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. \u00a0Vince and Steve coached us on various aspects of ice and mixed climbing. \u00a0We spent time \u00a0learning how to move on low angle terrain, climbing moderate ice, downclimbing, and climbing steep ice and rock. \u00a0The emphasis was on moving efficiently with the least possible expenditure of energy.<\/p>\n

\"Vince<\/a>
Vince Anderson, headed up the ice to set up a directional anchor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve done a fair amount of climbing in the past, but this training day was super helpful. \u00a0Viince and Steve would watch us climb, and give us pointers on our technique. \u00a0The instruction on climbing rock with crampons and ice tools was particularly useful for me, because I haven’t really done much dry tooling and mixed climbing. \u00a0By the end of the first day, I had climbed the most difficult rock climbing I’ve ever done in crampons, and was getting a much better idea of what I needed to do to stay balanced and in control on rock.<\/p>\n

\"Vince,<\/a>
Vince, coaching me on Le Saucisson, a dry tooling route in the Ouray Ice Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day two began with a presentation by Steve and Vince on various skills and techniques needed for alpine climbing. \u00a0Vince talked about preparation for climbing, with a focus on mental preparation. \u00a0We discussed strategies for balancing speed and safety, and minimizing danger on route. \u00a0We got to see pictures and hear stories about various climbs he’d done to illustrate his points.<\/p>\n

After Vince’s presentation, Steve led a discussion on gear and clothing systems. He brought duffel bags full of gear and clothing and Steve and Vince talked about what they used and why. \u00a0I was in gear geek heaven. \u00a0We talked about clothes, stoves, cams, ice screws, tents, sleeping bags and other stuff. \u00a0We got to see the sleeping bag that Steve made for their ascent of Nanga Parbat. \u00a0Steve talked about how gear and clothing design is evolving and gave us some hints about what we might see in the future.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/a>
Steve House, expressing his undying love for his DAS Parka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the gear discussion, we headed off up the Camp Bird Road to put some of the theories we’d learned into practice. \u00a0At the ice and mixed climbing spots near the road, we had some practical, hands-on instruction on\u00a0the logistics of bivouacs, rope management, belays, anchors, communication, and other aspects of climbing. \u00a0We practiced belay changeovers, and set up a simulated bivi site on a narrow ledge.<\/p>\n

\"Vince<\/a>
Vince Anderson on the “bivi ledge” he chopped out. (We decided not to sleep there for the night, however.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the most useful parts for me was the discussion on rope management and minimizing time spent doing changeovers at belays. \u00a0When I’m climbing, it always seems like the belay changeover takes way more time than it should. \u00a0They taught us a dozen little tricks to shave time off of the exchange.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/a>
Steve House instructing on belay changeovers, while Vince Anderson heads up the ice to set up a top rope.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interspersed with the instruction on non-climbing techniques, we also did some more climbing, and Steve and Vince coached us on our movement skills.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/a>
Steve House, demonstrating relaxed form on steep ice.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We wrapped things up as the sun was setting, and later on that evening, we all met for dinner, where we chatted, listened to Steve and Vince’s stories, and generally had a great time. \u00a0It was at dinner that we learned of our objectives for the next day. \u00a0We were going to split into two rope teams of three, and climb two multi-pitch routes that are right next to each other. \u00a0My team, led by Vince, was going to climb Bird Brain Boulevard<\/a>. \u00a0The other rope team, led by Steve, was going to climb The Ribbon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Ribbon is the prominent ice climb on the left. Bird Brain Blvd is in the dark cleft and chimney system on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have to admit that when I heard we were going to be attempting Bird Brain Boulevard, I was pretty worried. \u00a0It’s seven pitches (1200 feet) long, and rated WI5 M6, which is significantly harder than anything I’ve climbed before. \u00a0I’ve known about this route for years. \u00a0I remember seeing pictures from the first ascent it in an old Latok Mountain Gear catalog. \u00a0It holds a somewhat mythic status in my mind. \u00a0It’s a climb that is out of my league, even on top rope, with a guide. \u00a0I spent a mostly sleepless night that night, worrying about flailing, slowing the party down, and making a fool out of myself on a route that was too hard for me to climb. \u00a0We were planning a pre-dawn start, to ensure we got on the climb ahead of any other parties, but I was awake well before my alarm went off at 4:15.<\/p>\n

Vince picked me up a little before 5, and we drove off in the dark to the trailhead. \u00a0We were all relieved to see that there were no other cars parked there. \u00a0We would be on the route first, which would minimize objective dangers of other parties knocking rock and ice down on our heads. \u00a0We took our time getting gear ready and took it easy on the approach, waiting for the sun to come out and give us some light to climb by. \u00a0We actually started climbing about 6:00, just as it was getting light enough to see. \u00a0The climbing was steep, and I had to keep in mind what I was doing, but none of it was beyond my abilities as long as I stayed calm and focused.<\/p>\n

At the top of the first pitch, Vince and Ollie had already gone ahead and I was bringing up the rear, breaking down the belay anchors. \u00a0I unclipped the clove hitch that tied myself to the anchor, and was reaching out to unscrew an ice screw that was last remaining piece of the belay anchor, when my feet sheared through the snow, and I pitched right off the belay ledge. \u00a0I felt like a complete moron. \u00a0I’d climbed steep ice and rock up to this point without falling, but somehow managed to fall off of the belay ledge. \u00a0Luckily, I was on a top rope, and the only thing injured was my pride, so I climbed back up to the ledge, retrieved the ice screw, and proceeded up the climb, a little shaky from some extra adrenaline in my veins.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The view down the climb from the belay ledge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The climbing all along the route was pretty sustained. \u00a0Every pitch had some part of it that made me wonder if I could do it. \u00a0However, I just kept thinking back to the training of the previous two days: \u00a0“Place the tool. \u00a0Test it. \u00a0Believe in it? \u00a0Then trust it.” \u00a0“Keep your picks and your crampon points quiet and still once you place them.” \u00a0“Always keep in mind the direction of pressure when you choose a crampon point placement on rock.” \u00a0Find a crack and torque the pick.” \u00a0Vince and Steve’s coaching was fresh in my mind, and kept me progressing steadily upward from one section to the next.<\/p>\n

\"Oli,<\/a>
Oli, on one of the steep ice sections, headed for the chimneys.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The most tenuous part of the climb was a section that was mostly devoid of ice, and required stemming on bare rock up to a lip that had some \u00a0frozen moss that would take (gentle) sticks. \u00a0The most strenuous parts of the climb were a series of squeeze chimneys, where I had to wriggle up, thrutching my way higher, with my back pack dangling below me hung from a runner, wishing I wasn’t quite so thick.<\/p>\n

\"Climbing<\/a>
Climbing good (thick) ice on Bird Brain Blvd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wriggling<\/a>
Wriggling up a chimney on Bird Brain Blvd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Oli,<\/a>
Oli, pulling over a lip on Bird Brain Blvd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, we topped out, and then traversed and rappelled our way over to the Ribbon, where there is a series of fixed rappel stations. \u00a0I was worried that our ropes were going to get stuck in the trees along the rappel route, but we managed to avoid that hassle. \u00a0We got back to the car without incident, a little after 1:00 in the afternoon, which was a respectable time for a guided group of three people. \u00a0 (I was glad to only have to use my headlamp for the approach, not the descent.)<\/p>\n

\"Vince<\/a>
Vince Anderson, navigating through trees on our rappel down to the Ribbon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was really happy with how things had gone. \u00a0Other than my ignominious tumble off of the belay ledge, I’d managed to climb the route with no falls and no hanging on the rope, which was certainly better than I had feared. \u00a0It was the perfect end to a terrific three days. \u00a0I went back to town, soaked in a hot tub for a while, then met up with Steve and the rest of the group for an early dinner\/late lunch at the local brew pub. \u00a0(Vince had headed back home to take care of some business.) \u00a0 \u00a0We chatted and ate, and then I finally said goodbye to my new friends.<\/p>\n

The workshop exceeded my expectations on all levels. \u00a0I can’t think of a better way to tune up my alpine climbing skills than to spend three days with Vince and Steve, learning from the best in the business. \u00a0It was truly a terrific experience, and I’m already dreaming about climbing with them again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Skyward Mountaineering is a guide service operated by alpinists Steve House and Vince Anderson. \u00a0In addition to offering guided climbs both locally and internationally, they also teach instructional workshops focusing on various aspects of climbing. \u00a0I was lucky enough to participate in their \u00a0three day Winter Alpine Climbing Intensive Workshop. The workshop took place in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[59],"tags":[234,232,230,207,228,224,229,231,233],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2037,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions\/2037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/larsonweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}