The planning process has begun. Soon the snow will fly and the water will freeze and all those thoughts you’ve had this summer of swinging tools will become a reality. If you’ve been to the Smuggs Ice Bash in the past, you know how much fun it is. If you haven’t been, maybe you’ve had your reasons for not attending. Well, there are way more than a just a couple reasons to join us for the 2016 Smuggs Ice Bash, but for your reading ease, here are six of our favorites!
1. You can kick off the weekend the right way by watching the dry tooling comp!
Every year, Petra Cliffs hosts the kick off party with the Annual Dry Tooling competition. Between big kegs and bigger falls, the evening is sure to entertain all. Plus, you might even see your clinic guide trying hard on some plastic holds.
2. Smuggler’s Notch is a world-class ice climbing destination.
While the guides were trying to decide where to take the Climb a Classic clinic last winter, they had tons of options. Why? Because almost every route in Smuggler’s Notch is a classic, and they range from beginner terrain at the Work Out Wall for our intro clinics to steep, multipitch ice for advanced climbers looking for a new adventure.
3. Gear. Gear. Gear. Gear. Gear.
Let’s be honest. We’re all a little addicted to gear. Lucky for you, Ice Bash partners with some of the best vendors so you can fulfill your craving. Itching to try those new Cassin tools? Or maybe you’ve been wondering what it’s like to climb with a mono-point crampon? We’ve got you covered!
4. The guest guides are awesome!
Guides by day, superheroes by night. Well, maybe they’re actually kind of super heroes at their day jobs too. Every year we bring in some of the top guides to work with our clinics. Past years have seen Whit Magro, Emilie Drinkwater, Ian Osteyee, Lindsay Fixmer and Micheal Wejchert. You can learn more about them here! Stay tuned for which superheroes will be joining the Petra Cliffs Crew this season.
5. Clinics always come with camaraderie.
First time ice climbing? Same with most of your clinic mates! What better way to make friends and meet climbing partners than while bonding over ice tools at the Work Out Wall. At the end of the day, you can all grab a beer and watch the guest speaker at the Smuggler’s Notch Resort.
6. Doug Millen always brings soup.
Feeling a little chilly at the end of the day? Never fear! Doug Millen of NE Ice will be waiting for you in the parking lot with some of the best soup you’ve ever tasted. Hang out and talk about ice while you warm up over some veggie soup fresh out of the pot.
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