Climbing a frozen waterfall. It’s like nothing else. It’s completely counterintuitive and quite essentric if you really think about it. Which might be why it is so intriguing and addicting to many people!
Much like the ice, the learning curve is steep. Thankfully with today's modern equipment, some quality instruction and some good pals to learn with, that steep curve can be flattened down like the snow beneath our crampons.
In our ice climbing courses, you will learn many big picture concepts. Topics will include everything from how to dress to how to position your body while swinging an ice tool. But there are also many small details that really help a day of ice climbing go smoother, and we love to share those tips with you too. Here is a sneak peak of three of the tips you will learn in our Ice Climbing 101:
1. Donning Crampons
One of the very first things you do once you arrive at the ice is put on your crampons. Putting them on is a skill in and of itself, but once they’re on that leftover strap is quite annoying and can actually be hazardous. The straps can also be hard to thread with gloves on. Here is one efficient way to manage it:
2. Matching Hands
Sometimes an ice climb will wander side to side a little bit, which can make it difficult to swing one hand in front of the other. In this video, Karsten Delap demonstrates a method called “Thumb Matching” which helps us move laterally on the ice while keeping good tool separation.
3. Lubing Ice Screws
The more you use ice screws, the more you will notice that some screws can be placed and removed quite smoothly. While others feel like they are sticking to the ice like a tongue to a frozen metal pole. One way to prevent this is by using a silicone impregnated cloth. See the video below for how to do it!