Smuggs Ice Bash

Vermont’s Annual Ice Climbing Festival

Hosted by the Petra Cliffs Climbing Center & Mountaineering School in Smuggler’s Notch Vermont.

19th Annual Smuggs Ice Bash

Jan 30th - Feb 1st, 2026

A group of hikers walking down a snow-covered trail surrounded by snow-covered trees in winter, with some hikers carrying backpacks and wearing winter gear.
Two ice climbers in red and yellow gear ascending an icy cliff with icicles and snow-covered trees in the background.
Ice Bash Clinics
Ice Bash Info & FAQ
Schedule of Events
Guest Speakers

Visit the Smuggs Ice Bash on Instagram @thesmuggsicebash or Facebook for the most recent updates on the event.

Schedule of Events

Person wearing a yellow helmet and red clothes climbing an indoor rock wall with colorful holds.

Friday Night Kick-Off Party & Drytool Competition

Kick off the Ice Bash weekend with us at our legendary action-packed Friday night drytooling competition! Watch as some of the East Coast's strongest climbers put their skills to the test on challenging obstacles including hanging features, stalactites, and more, using nothing but their tools and determination.

  • Starting at 6pm @ Petra Cliffs Climbing Center

  • $20 entry fee, includes 1 raffle ticket

  • Clinic participants get discounted tickets: use code ICEISNICE when buying your ticket

  • Bring cash for additional Raffle Tickets, raffle proceeds benefit CRAG-VT

  • Beverages provided by our gracious sponsors

  • Live DJ to keep the party going!

  • Check out the photos from the 2025 Comp!

*Interested in competing? Email outdoor@petracliffs.com

Kick-off Party Tickets
Ice climber in blue jacket and yellow helmet ascending frozen ice waterfall, using climbing gear, in a snowy canyon.

Saturday Clinics

Clinics ranging from intro and exploratory to advanced and technique focused.

Register for a clinic
Silhouette of a saw with text that reads "SMUGGS ICE BASH" and "SMUGGLERS' NOTCH, VT" below.

Saturday Base Camp Bash & Guest Speakers

An evening of community, guest speaker presentations, and stoke in celebration of ice climbing. Meet other climbers, check out our event sponsors, and get inspired by unique conversations and exciting guest presenters. A cash Raffle to benefit CRAG-VT will take place during the evening presentations, bring cash for additional raffle tickets.

  • Base Camp Bash entry fee is $30 in advance ($35 at the door)

  • Clinic participants get discounted tickets: use code ICEISNICE when buying your ticket

  • Happy Hour & Vendor Village 4 PM - 6 PM

  • Presentations start at 6 PM

  • Beverages provided by our gracious sponsors

Base Camp Bash Tickets
Person in pink winter gear climbing an icy rock face outdoors on a winter day, with leafless trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Sunday Clinics

Clinics ranging from intro and exploratory to advanced and technique focused.

Register for a clinic

A HUGE thanks to our 2025 Guest Speakers!

Stay tuned for our 2026 Guest Speakers

Logo with cloud and snowflake icon above the text 'Forecast Equipment'
Three men wearing matching gray t-shirts with the "Forecast Equipment" logo, standing close together, smiling, with their arms around each other, in an indoor setting with a wall and a projection screen in the background.

Forecast Equipment Team & athlete JC Dubeau

Making your own gear is a pursuit of passion, dedication, and creativity. Turning that gear into a high-quality product beloved by the community and uncompromising in its design, production, and performance takes this to the next level. Forecast Equipment specializes in creating drytool and ice climbing tools made by, and for, people who love to recreate in the mountains. Founded out of a desire for equipment that works the way it needs to when you're out there climbing, the Forecast Equipment team is small but mighty. Zac, Brian, Marty, and Forecast athlete JC Dubeau will share an engaging presentation of the past, present, and future of the company — behind the scenes of the creation of Forecast Equipment, their process, and the places their tools have been. For a sneak peek check out this Ice Ice Beta podcast episode featuring Marty: Creation and Catharsis: On Designing a New Ice Axe with Marty Theriault

An ice climber in a blue jacket and black pants, wearing an orange helmet, is ascending a frozen ice formation with the help of a climbing tool in their hand.
Person in red winter gear wearing sunglasses and gloves, holding a Trinity College banner, on snow-covered mountain peak with bright blue sky and clouds in the background.

Anne Parmenter: Mountaineer, Lifelong Athlete, & Coach

Anne Parmenter on designing a life to do difficult things. Anne is a lifelong athlete with 39 years of collegiate field hockey coaching (she’s a Hall of Fame Field Hockey coach!) and an impressive resume of mountain ascents including Denali, Ama Dablam, Cotopaxi, Everest, and Aconcagua. Anne has spent her life doing hard things and helping others do the same. Join us to hear about her life, her approach to challenge, and how sport and outdoor adventure can be lifelong pursuits. Get to know Anne:

Finding Mastery Podcast: Resiliency, Mindset, Ethics

Guides Gone Wild Podcast: Get in the (Long) Game

SPONSORS

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SPONSORS ⋆

Darn Tough Vermont logo with red, black, white, and gray colors
Colorful logo with stylized letters 'A T' decorated with winter and nature scenes, and the words 'adventurous threads' underneath.

Adventurous Threads is an online and mobile outdoor consignment business that aims to provide affordable outdoor gear and reduce waste by keeping high-quality outdoor equipment in circulation. The mission of Adventurous Threads is to make outdoor adventures accessible and environmentally friendly by offering affordable consigned gear. Learn more and shop online at https://adventurousthreads.com/

Logo for Alpine Gremlins featuring black background with red claw marks and blue text.

At Alpine Gremlins we are driven by the belief that the only limit is creativity. Founded in Vermont is 2023, we are constantly looking for new ways to make gear lighter and more packable; with an emphasis on simplicity, cohesive functionality, and team success. Our Dyneema® based softgoods will keep your gear dry and organized, allowing you to focus on the adventure ahead. Check us out at alpinegremlins.com.

Logo for Outdoor Gear Exchange featuring a mountain, sun, and sky with the company name.

We are Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE), located in Burlington, VT. We offer the best deals possible on gear for camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, alpine touring, nordic skiing, biking, canoeing, adventure travel and more. Our mission is to empower outdoor activity, adventure, and exploration of all kinds by cultivating community and encouraging knowledge sharing, while outfitting all people with gear that best meets their needs. Shop online at https://www.gearx.com/

Black-and-white illustration of a pie in a pie dish with the words 'POORHOUSE PIES' above and 'Underhill, Vermont' below.

We are a small bakery in Underhill, VT specializing in traditional and innovative pies. We make sweet and savory pies in a large variety daily and have both gluten free and vegan options. Visit poorhousepies.com for more info and menu.

Switchback Brewing Co. logo with a mountain landscape and a winding green and blue river.

The Switchback Brewing Company was founded in 2002 with one goal in mind – to brew unexpected, relatable, great tasting beer. Today, the Switchback lineup has grown to include over 20 beers as year-round offerings, rotating specials and limited releases and they haven’t stopped reimagining flavor. Switchback is now 100% employee owned and will remain locally-owned and -operated forever. switchbackvt.com