Ice climbing course
Does anyone have experience ice climbing? I'm thinking of taking an intro to ice climbing course in the winter and would love to chat about your experience ice climbing
What are must learns from an intro to ice climbing course? What to look for in identifying a credible guide/instructor?
What are must learns from an intro to ice climbing course? What to look for in identifying a credible guide/instructor?
Are you intending to climb around the coast or in the rockies? The ice around here is starting to form less often, but if you can make the pilgrimage out to the rockies you're guaranteed to have some phenomenal ice climbing. If you're looking for local guides, I haven't used: https://www.vanmtnguides.com/ personally, but the owner is very knowledgeable of the area and exceptionally strong at ice climbing. The BCMC has also partnered with Canada West Mountaineering School and they might offer ice climbing courses in the winter as well.
Happy to advise on ice climbing! Send me a personal message with your questions and I'll do my best.
Must learns: safety is a good place to start. How do we make ice climbing safe. This is because ice climbing can get very unsafe if you don't know what you are doing. Lots of sharp things and cold weather to worry about. Then, a break down of equipment. Different types of ice tools. Different types of crampons. Ways and means to sample these different types. Tricks with the ever looming challenge of warmth vs dexterity in a climbing glove. Lastly, and this is very important, how to swing your tool properly to make it stick. Sounds easy, right? Well, it takes a bit of time, so learning the tricks early on will speed the process. Oh, and of course, body position. Check out Will Gadd's montage of ice climbing videos to learn about efficiency and energy management. They're truck!
Credible guide/instructor: this is a little harder to advise, but I think there are a few reputable places around here. But, if you can find a way to learn in the Rockies, you'll probably get a lot further with it. Much more easy and reliable ice to start on . Oh: I just saw Francis saying the same thing. Yes, lots of fat, low angle ice to start on. You won't get much of that around here, if at all. I can list a few awesome Rockies guides: Tom Wolfe, Sarah Hueniken, Barry Blachard (get him to tell you some stories too while you are out with him). Will Gadd costs mucho dinero, but you'll get some gold star training. Plenty of others: those are the superstars. Either of the Seans (Doherty, Isaac).
Must learns: safety is a good place to start. How do we make ice climbing safe. This is because ice climbing can get very unsafe if you don't know what you are doing. Lots of sharp things and cold weather to worry about. Then, a break down of equipment. Different types of ice tools. Different types of crampons. Ways and means to sample these different types. Tricks with the ever looming challenge of warmth vs dexterity in a climbing glove. Lastly, and this is very important, how to swing your tool properly to make it stick. Sounds easy, right? Well, it takes a bit of time, so learning the tricks early on will speed the process. Oh, and of course, body position. Check out Will Gadd's montage of ice climbing videos to learn about efficiency and energy management. They're truck!
Credible guide/instructor: this is a little harder to advise, but I think there are a few reputable places around here. But, if you can find a way to learn in the Rockies, you'll probably get a lot further with it. Much more easy and reliable ice to start on . Oh: I just saw Francis saying the same thing. Yes, lots of fat, low angle ice to start on. You won't get much of that around here, if at all. I can list a few awesome Rockies guides: Tom Wolfe, Sarah Hueniken, Barry Blachard (get him to tell you some stories too while you are out with him). Will Gadd costs mucho dinero, but you'll get some gold star training. Plenty of others: those are the superstars. Either of the Seans (Doherty, Isaac).