Dry Tooling Course

Dry tooling—climbing on rock using crampons and ice axes—is the ideal activity for the off-season months of November and December. It serves as preparation for ice climbing, but it’s also great just for the sake of it, because it’s a fantastic alpine sport. 

Unfortunately, the ice climbing season is quite short. Trips aren’t usually possible before Christmas or New Year’s Eve, and by the end of February, it’s already over. That’s why good preparation for ice climbing is essential to ensuring a successful experience on the ice. This dry tooling course in St. Jodok in early winter is the perfect training for that. We’ll get used to the movement patterns and equipment and climb beginner-friendly routes at easy difficulty levels with excellent protection (piton spacing sometimes less than 1 meter), as well as easy multi-pitch routes where appropriate. 

Course Content

  • Area Overview
  • Materials Science
  • Climbing and belaying techniques
  • Rappelling
  • Special Considerations When Climbing with Crampons and Ice Axes
  • Customized focus areas
  • Movement Technique
  • Strategies, Self-Management, Tips, and Tricks for Saving Time

Requirements for your participation

Climbing experience is required for this course. The course is designed for people who want to try this sport for the first time, as well as for experienced ice climbers who want to specifically prepare for the ice climbing season.

The program at a glance

Day 1 – Saturday: Individual travel to the mountaineering village of St. Jodok

    • Welcome, Introduction to the Area
    • Equipment check right at the meeting point before we set off
    • First few meters of climbing to get acclimated at the Drytool climbing area
    • Basics and Advanced Climbing and Belaying Techniques at the Drytool Climbing Garden
    • Refining Techniques
    • Customized focus areas


Day 2: Sunday – Course activities and individual return home

    • Climbing a multi-pitch dry-tooling route
    • Rappelling
    • Customized focus areas

You can find information about public transportation online at www.vvt.at or download the VVT's SmartRide app to your phone.

Equipment

Ice axes, crampons, and gear for multi-pitch climbing routes. Any missing safety equipment will be provided by the course instructors. We strive to ensure that our course participants have the right gear for them and do not want to create an unnecessary gear frenzy. Our philosophy is: simply bring your own gear to the course; any missing items will be provided by the course instructors during the course. At the end of the course, each participant will have a personalized, tailored shopping list for their next shopping trip.

Dates & Prices for 2027

2026 Dates:
Nov. 7–8, 2026
Custom dates for groups are available at any time!

Price per person: starting at €300
Minimum number of participants: 4 people
(for groups of 3 or more: €400)

Included services

  • 2-day course with a local, state-certified mountain guide
  • When booking a stay in the Wipptal: Wipptal Card = ticket for public transportation in the Wipptal (Innsbruck-Brenner S-Bahn, regional buses to all valleys)
     

 

A Boundless Communication Concept

The alpine courses in the Wipptal Valley are an example of how funding projects can lead to concrete initiatives for the region. The “Boundless Communication Concept” project demonstrates how the climate change adaptation strategy can be implemented in a practical way—through initiatives that promote safety, environmental awareness, and sustainable alpine tourism.

Funded by Interreg Italy–Austria, CLLD Wipptal, and the participating regional partners.

Registration Form for Dry Tooling Course

Overnight stay in St. Jodok included upon request
Date
Arrival
Data protection

Privacy Policy:

Booking and Cancellation Policies:
Four weeks before arrival, you will receive detailed information about the dry tooling course, including the accommodation address (if booked), the program, a packing list, and the invoice.
Cancellation Policy:
Up to 4 weeks before arrival: 50% cancellation fee
Up to 1 week before arrival: 75% cancellation fee
1 week or less before arrival: 100% cancellation fee

We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance from Europäische Reiseversicherung. Along with your booking confirmation, we’ll send you a link that allows you to easily and quickly purchase your insurance online—ideally right when you book.

Providers for the tour:
Incoming Reisebürogesellschaft GmbH
Rathausplatz 1
6150 Steinach a. Br.
Phone: 0043 5272 6270