At first glance most climbers are equally inspired, intimidated, and motivated by the options before them, upon entering the South Fork of the Shoshone.  The majority of the climbs are rarely completely visible as they corkscrew through bands of volcanic conglomerate, shales, and sandstones.  The walk that appeared to be twenty minutes takes sixty to ninety minutes.  It’s a massive landscape in the rain shadow of the southern Absaroka Mountains and borders the “most roadless” area in the lower 48-states. 

What doe's the summit of the North Buttress of Mt. Hunter Alaska and K6 Pakistan have in common?  Scott Bennett has proudly stood on top of both!  We are so stoked to announce that CAMP athlete Scott Bennett is coming to the Cody Ice Fest. 

There is perhaps no one who has impacted Cody Ice Climbing more than Grivel athlete Aaron Mulkey.  Aaron has put up first ascents on some of the hardest lines in the area and the Cody Ice Fest is thrilled to welcome Aaron Mulkey back to his home town festival.  Aaron will be teaching both advanced and beginner clinics during the ice fest.  Regardless if you are new to the sport or working on sending your most difficult project Mulkey will be able to help you and your climbing get to the next level.  Big thanks to our friends at Grivel for sponsoring these clinics. 

Aaron Mulkey Bio: Few are as dedicated to ice climbing exploration as Aaron Mulkey, who has spent nearly two decades systematically scouring the earth for undiscovered ice lines.  Moving from Boulder, Colorado, to Cody, Wyoming in 1999, was not a logical decision.  Most people thought he was crazy to leave college, good friends, climbing partners to live in a small town.  But when someone told him that adventure was lost in America, he responded, "You haven't visited Cody." 

By then, his life was entirely focused on searching for new ice routes.  During the summer, he'd ride horses, kayak, hike and backpack into hidden canyons that just might contain winter ice.  Each time he found something, it was like discovering a new world.  Cody seemed to contain endless opportunities of this kind: the main South Fork Valley was only the beginning of its potential.  The numerous side canyons that spread out in all directions offered the chance to discover routes that no other climbers had even seen. 

As the ice begins to melt, Mulkey trades in his ice tools and climbing rack for a kayak and paddle.  The exploration continues, this time through the spectacular watery gorges buried deep in the Rocky Mountains.  His year-round hunt for uncharted ice and water in some of the most remote locations in the West and makes him one of the most prolific pioneers of the Rocky Mountains.  With well over 100 first ascents of frozen waterfalls and over 20 first descents of rivers and creeks around the world, Aaron Mulkey has proven he is not afraid to walk a little farther to explore unknown places. 

Lowa Athlete Carlos Buhler is one of America's leading high altitude mountaineers.  His ascents include Everest, K2 and Naga Parbat.  The Cody Ice Festival is thrilled to announce that Carlos will be representing Lowa at the 2017 Festival as a clinic instructor.