Mountaineering club to host ice climbing festival

MAT-SU — From ice picks to crampons, and beginners to pros the Matanuska Glacier will host the 2007 Mountaineering Club of Alaska Ice Climbing Festival.

“The main purpose of the event is to introduce outdoor enthusiasts to modern ice climbing techniques,” said Jayme Dixon, a member of MCA.

Although the event is open to anyone, the Mountaineering Club of Alaska requires attendees to become members, said Dixon. A membership costs $15 and applications are available online. The event costs $50 per person and is set for the Sept. 29 and 30. People planning on going to the event must attend an informative meeting prior to the event. The meeting will be held on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Anchorage.

The festival averages 80 students, 30 instructors and five volunteers, said Dixon. But the event has seen student numbers as high as 120.

While many current MCA members will attend the festival, Dixon encourages people new to the sport of ice climbing to attend.

“The festival caters to people of all ice climbing abilities,” she said.

For more information visit www.mcak.com or contact Jayme Dixon at mca_icefest@

yahoo.com.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.