Alaska Ice Climbing Guide

CMI is based in Valdez (Alaska’s ice climbing Mecca) and is less than a 10 minute drive from Keystone Canyon: one of the world’s most renowned ice climbing destinations with big, multi-pitch ice climbs right next to the road and parking.

CMI offers guided ice climbing in many other areas of Alaska and has extensive experience near Anchorage (Portage Valley, Seward Highway, Front Range, Eklutna Canyon, Echo Bend of Eagle River, Hunter Creek), in the Matanuska Valley (Hatcher Pass, Caribou Creek, Gravel Creek), in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (near McCarthy and Nabesna), and around Chitina. Your guide is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable Alaska ice climbers.

CMI also offers Ice Climbing 101 courses (info and scheduled dates available here).

Call/text 907-831-9686 or email Info@ChugachSnow.org to start planning an unforgettable guided ice climbing adventure in Alaska.

Rates for private guiding and instruction start at $600 per day.

The Alaska ice climbing season typically begins in November. At this time of year, climbing opportunities become available in the colder (i.e. northern and interior) regions of the state (e.g. Nabesna in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve). Depending on early season weather (i.e. if it’s cold and dry), novel climbing opportunities become available around Valdez and through Thompson Pass into the Tiekel Valley in the Central Chugach.

December through mid February is prime time with the most access, climbing opportunities, and reliable conditions.

Ice climbing season extends into March, but is quickly winding down from increasing objective hazards due to warming temperatures and intense solar radiation that destabilizes ice, rock, and snow.

Outside of the ice climbing season as described above, opportunities for climbing glacier ice are available year round with the best venues being the Worthington Glacier (Thompson Pass) near Valdez and Root Glacier near Kennicott in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.