Clinics

Ready to dive into the exciting world of ice climbing? Book a clinic now to secure your place in the most thrilling festival experience around!

Festival clinics are organized and planned by Vancouver Mountain Guides. The festival has clinics for everyone from beginners to experts. Whether you want to learn how to ice climb and have never swung tools or you’re an expert that wants to improve your technique or learn to mixed climb. ACMG Guides and Pro Climbers are running this year’s clinics, so there’s no shortage of talent!


Private guiding and courses. Book a climbing trip today.

Friday, January 17, 2025

  • VMG Workshop: Ice Climbers Pack

    Cost: $20
    Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (1 hour)
    Guide: Brent Nixon
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, no experience req.
    Location:     Lillooet Brewing Company
    Topic: Learn what experienced ice climbers and guides pack - including what to wear while climbing.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

  • Clinic: Women’s Ice Breaker - Beginner

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Allie Oaks
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, no climbing experience
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: This beginner ice climbing clinic will take you from walking in crampons to your first waterfall ice climb!

  • VMG Clinic: Ice Breaker - Beginner

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Brent Nixon
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: This beginner ice climbing clinic will take you from walking in crampons to your first waterfall ice climb!

  • Arcteryx Clinic: Swing Dance - Novice

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Paul McSorley
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI2.
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: Learn the ice dance. Build a solid foundation with footwork while honing your swing to climb steeper ice.

  • Arcteryx Clinic: Women’s Swing Dance - Novice

Cost: $150
Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Guide: Nathalie Fortin
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI2.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Learn the ice dance. Build a solid foundation with footwork while honing your swing to climb steeper ice.

  • Clinic: Bomber Anchors - Novice

Cost: $75
Time: 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM (3 hours)
Guide: Brian Shannon
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, beginner, top roping WI2.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Learn to build bomber 2 screw anchors and v-threads. Don’t miss out on the daring v-thread demo!

  • Clinic: Women’s Bomber Anchors - Novice

Cost: $75
Time: 12:00 AM - 3:00 PM (3 hours)
Guide: Angela Van Wiemeersch
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, beginner, top roping WI2.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Learn to build bomber 2 screw anchors and v-threads. Don’t miss out on the daring v-thread demo!

  • Petzl Clinic: Tim Emmett Mixed Master - Novice/Intermediate

Cost: $200
Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Guide: Tim Emmet
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI3+.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Beginner mixed climbing clinic. Learn from professional climber Tim Emmett. Who would miss this!

  • Workshop: Knots for Climbers

Cost: $20
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (1 hour)
Guide: Brian Shannon
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, basic knots knowledge
Location: Lillooet Brewing Company
Topic: Learn knots - a fundamental skill (Clove hitch, autoblock, double bowline, girth hitch, others). Beginner friendly.

Steve Janes leading Jade Warrior WI6+ M9

Sunday, January 19, 2025

  • Arcteryx Clinic: Ice Breaker - Beginner

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Paul McSorley
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, no climbing experience
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: This beginner ice climbing clinic will take you from walking in crampons to your first waterfall ice climb!

  • Clinic: Swing Dance - Novice

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Brian Shannon
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI2.
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: Learn the ice dance. Build a solid foundation with footwork while honing your swing to climb steeper ice.

  • Clinic: Women’s Vertical Limit - Novice/Intermediate

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Angela Van Wiemeersch
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI3.
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: Focus is on steeper ice techniques for WI4/5 ice. Practice footwork and tool placements in more featured and steeper ice.

  • Clinic: Vertical Limit - Novice/Intermediate

    Cost: $150
    Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    Guide: Allie Oaks
    Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top rope WI3.
    Location: Marble Canyon
    Topic: Focus is on steeper ice techniques for WI4/5 ice. Practice footwork and tool placements in more featured and steeper ice.

  • Petzl Clinic: Tim Emmett Lead - Novice/Intermediate

Cost: $200
Time: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Guide: Tim Emmett
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, novice, top roping WI3.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Ready to try your first lead climb - Tim Emmett will show you how. Don’t miss out! First time leaders welcome.

  • VMG Clinic: Multipitch Switch - Novice

Cost: $75
Time: 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM (3 hours)
Guide: Brent Nixon
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, desire to multipitch, rappelling.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Focus is on multipitch belay transitions from one pitch to the next, and when you need to rappel down.

  • Arcteryx Clinic: Women’s Multipitch Switch - Novice

Cost: $75
Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (3 hours)
Guide: Nathalie Fortin
Prerequisite: Festival ticket purchase, desire to multipitch, rappelling.
Location: Marble Canyon
Topic: Focus is on multipitch belay transitions from one pitch to the next, and when you need to rappel down.

Let the Fun Begin

Climbers on the Deeping Wall WI5