Introduction to Ice Climbing

Ice climbing is an adventure sport that was born out of rock climbing. Climbers were forced to learn how to navigate the slippery ice faces at high altitudes in order to find their way back to the familiar feel of the rock face. As rock climbing’s popularity flourished, new tools and techniques were created, many of which focused on maneuvering over tricky patches of ice.

As far as adventure sports go, ice climbing is among the less extreme in terms of danger, but it is not without its risks. Ice-covered rock faces and frozen waterfalls are not the most consistent formations that a person can climb, and learning the ways of the ice is no small feat.

One of the most important things to know about ice climbing is that every climber, regardless of his or her skill on a rock, needs to be schooled in the ways of ice climbing.

The techniques and skill sets differ greatly from those employed by rock climbers and taking the time to understand the differences between the two adventure sports can literally save a person’s life.

Aside from taking the time to understand the nature of the sport and its limitations, ice climbers also need to get comfortable using the necessary gear, learn the various techniques and their applications on the ice, plus fully-understand ice climbing safety before they can hit the ice wall. The safest and best way to prepare to ice climb is to visit an indoor or open air ice climbing facility. Many such facilities boast impressive ice-covered faces and have experienced instructors there to show people the ropes of ice climbing.