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Mark your calendars now, the 2019 dates for the Smugglers Notch Ice Bash and Dry-tool Comp will be January 25th-27th, 2019.
We’ll get the party started again with our ever popular indoor dry-tool competition, live DJ, and public demo’s along with the always overwhelming raffle (1 of 2 over the weekend). It’s only a couple of bucks to come and spectate at Petra Cliffs Climbing Center on Friday night. There will be adult beverages with a suggested donation to our local climbing non-profit; CRAG-VT. All proceeds will go to a local project to help build and foster our ever strengthening climbing community.
Saturday and Sunday will be filled with a host of clinics tailored for the true novice all the way through to the experienced alpinist. Demo’s from all the best brands will be present so if you’re looking for that next piece of kit, come demo it first before dropping the big bucks!
Saturday night we’ll also have another HUGE raffle, a dinner and presentations by professional athletes and guides. Past presenters have been; Erik Weihenmayer, Mark and Janelle Smiley, Kevin Mahoney, Mark Puleio, Ian Osteyee, Nick Bullock, Nick Yardley and many more!
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Now onto a few reasons the Smuggs Ice Bash is unique among the rest!
- This is for climbers by climbers but inclusive to all our community members who want to experience climbing. The Smuggs Ice Bash is organized by Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School based in Burlington, VT and they’ve been guiding Ice in Smuggs for well over a decade. The Ice Bash Coordinator, Tim Farr, knows Smuggs better then he knows the back of his own hand and has been working on an updated guidebook to the area with other local hard-man and Smuggs first ascent connoisseur, Alden Pellett, which they hope to release to the public soon. Tim knows Ice and back in February became a Certified Ice Instructor through the AMGA; 1 of only 2 in the nation currently, and love’s climbing and talking ice info and conditions. Having such intimate knowledge and experience with an area allows us to show you the best of Smuggs.
- It’s a Winter playground! One of the biggest benefits of Smuggs is the large concentration of ice and mixed routes all accessed from a singular road and squeezed into roughly two miles of road. With over a hundred pure ice, mixed and pure mixed routes in Smuggs in such a short distance, there is plenty for all to climb on. Add to this that the road is closed in winter, you don’t have to deal with that distracting road noise other locations may have.
- It’s Vermont! And Vermont is unique, community oriented and full of Winter adventure. Nestled into a Mountain Notch in Northern Vermont with smaller towns surrounding, with ski resorts and much more, you can experience that Vermont adventure and piece and quiet while still being only a couple hours drive from major metropolitan areas such as Boston and Montreal. From the every popular Vermont maple syrup, ice cream and small micro-brews, this Festival has a host of benefits that allow you to have that Vermont experience.
- We’re smaller and we like it that way! We’re not the size of those other festivals with hundreds of participants and volunteers with the hyper-activity and confusion. This is a locals festival that offers a high quality product and has a large sense of community and friendship that lasts. We’re always excited to see our returning festival goers year to year and always welcome newcomers with open arms.
- The quality product due to high quality guides! We have made a dedication to offering clinics offered by qualified guides through the American Mountain Guides Association and we find great value in our dedication to your safety out on the ice. While other festivals may offer clinics from sponsored athletes who have climbed rad things at a high level, with a guide you know that their job revolves around offering the best product possible to the participant and they want you to leave happy, healthy, educated and ready for more.
So we hope you join us this January for another great Smugglers Notch Ice Bash; January 25th-27th, 2019!
