FAQ

Clinics will meet each morning at 9am at the 202 West Main Street community center in Cooke City. This is attached to the fire dept. Look for the Cookeout Ice festival banner. Doors will open at 8:30am. Clinic will carpool about 10 minutes outside of Cooke City to climbing destinations. Three is limited parking so please carpool. 

Doors open at 5:30pm Dinner starts at 6pm. Presentation start at 7pm. 

Driving: If you're driving to Cooke City from the west, your best route is through Livingston/ Gardner/ Mammoth (Highway 89) and through Yellowstone via the NE entrance road. If you're driving from the east, your best route is through Cody and the Chief Joesph Highway/Krandall Road. You will see on maps that there is a section of this road that is closed just before Cooke City. Wyoming stops plowing this small section of highway in November, but locals in Cooke City typically plow this section of road until December 1st. There is very little snow on the road currently, and we will update everyone if the road conditions change. There is no gate on the road; there is just a sign that says road closed. Travel at your own risk. Feel free to call us if you have questions at 3078991942. 

Cooke City, MT is located 136 miles from Bozeman, MT. This route does take you through Yellowstone National Park and takes about 3 hours to drive. If you’re driving from Cody, Wy its a 76 mile drive and takes about an hour and half. (The Cody Route is only open to vehicles between May 15th -December 1st. Cooke City is about 8:45 from Denver and around 8:00 from Salt Lake City. The best airports to fly into are Bozeman, Billings or Cody. If you are renting a vehicle, make sure it is equipped with 4x4 and appropriate tires.

• Personal ice gear, even if you plan on demoing. If you have a gear need, please reach out to us directly at info@wyoicefest.com. 

  • Harness with ice clippers

  • Ice tools and appropriate picks

  • Crampons with mono or dual front points, automatic preferred

  • Climbing helmet

  • Ice boots 

  • Glove systems

  • Cold weather climbing gear

    • Pants

    • Puffy

    • Belay jacket

    • Hardshell

    • Base layers

    • Socks

    • Balaclavas, buffs, beanies, etc. 

    • Sunglasses

    • Trekking pole(s) for approaches

  • Belay device(s). We like a standard ATC and a assisted brake device.

  • All ice screws, anchors, and ropes provided.

Breakfast and Demos start each day at 8am

Clinics meet at 9:00am 

Dinner starts at 6:00pm 

Presentations start at 7:00pm
Friday, Nov 21st - Pete Tapley’s “Lightening in a Bottle”
Saturday, Nov 22nd - Whit Magro’s “Pilot & Index Project”

Cooke City guards the NE entrance to Yellowstone National Park and is about as remote as it gets. In the winter, its the end of the road, with access available only via snowmobile. Fortunately, we’ve timed the festival to allow relatively easy access to early-season ice. Featuring small group clinics, focused instruction, and LOTS of time on ice, the CookeOut is the best value in the ice festival world.

• Demos will be provided by our high end partners, including Black Diamond, CAMP, and more. 

• Ice tools, including the new Black Diamond Hydra, developed with Aaron Mulkey. 

• Crampons

Boots are NOT provided for demo. If you need boots, email us and we can chat.

• High Country Cabins

• The Alpine Motel

The longest approach is about 30 minutes, and most are much shorter. Less walking, more swinging! 

UPDATE: Cooke City Coffee will be open for breakfast during the Ice Fest. If you paid for breakfast early, you will receive a credit voucher to take over to Cooke City Coffee for the same amount you paid us for breakfast. We recommend signing up for the Cookeout Dinners or packing your own food for the weekend.

If you signed up for dinner you are all set for dinner. We will have water available and Beer for purchase provided by Snake river brewing. 

Cooke City Coffee will be open Nov 21-24 from 7:30am - 3pm 

Wookas Wild Eats says they will be open. They do not have inside seating.

Exxon Gas Station open from Friday-Sunday 8-6 and Monday-Thursday 8:30-5:30 

Cookeout Dinner ($20 ea)

• Friday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches, baked beans, coleslaw

• Saturday - BBQ chicken, potato salad, french bread

• Veggie options available upon request

Each night and morning we will meet up at the Cooke City Community Center for food and drinks. This will be our primary hangout spot for the weekend. Each night we will eat and drink beer provided by Snake River Brewing. Friday night local legend Pete Tapley will kick off the event with a presentation that will no doubt start your winter fire. Saturday Night another legend Whit Magro brings his energy and inspiration to continue to fuel your winter fire.

We know plans can change, and we do our best to be flexible, but please note that all festival registrations and clinics are non-refundable.

Each registration helps us cover significant behind-the-scenes costs that make the event possible, from restocking the site and securing permits to coordinating guides, clinics, and gear. These commitments happen well in advance, which is why we’re unable to offer refunds.

However, we do want to make sure you still get the chance to experience the festival! If you’re unable to attend, you can defer your registration to the following year’s festival by submitting a request before November 1 of that year.

We appreciate your understanding and support, it’s what keeps the Cookeout strong and growing each year.

If you need to request a deferral or have any questions, please reach out to us at info@wyoicefest.com.