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Alpental offers excellent access to surprisingly good ice climbing and bolted mixed climbing. You'll only have to tour or snow shoe about 30 minutes to get to our training spot. Both of these very technical disciplines are fun in their own right and can be used as excellent training for aggressive alpine routes.
Alpental offers excellent access to surprisingly good ice climbing and bolted mixed climbing. You'll only have to tour or snow shoe about 30 minutes to get to our training spot. Both of these very technical disciplines are fun in their own right and can be used as excellent training for aggressive alpine routes. This day is intended to introduce the course participant to the principles of modern mixed climbing. The mixed element is there, but the major emphasis will be placed on steep ice climbing technique.
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Required: None
Fitness Level: Good physical fitness
Course Curriculum:
1. Appropriate gear selection
• Introduction to various tools ranging from basic mountaineering ice axes to specialized ice climbing tools
• Glove and clothing selection
• Brief discussion on what is an appropriate crampon for steep ice climbing
• Explain leash systems and what matters here
2. Site selection
• Explain appropriate site selection
• Judging ice quality
• Positioning of the belayer
3. Climbing technique
• Basic ice climbing technique - resting technique
• Swing a tool
• Racking your harness - placing a screw
• Coming out of your leashes while climbing in moderate and vertical terrain
• Placing a screw while climbing in moderate and vertical terrain
• Climbing without leashes in the vertical arena to simplify screw placements
• Climbing on steep rock with crampons
• Using your ice tools on rock
• Mock leading and introduction to leading in vertical ice
** Please Note: We have dates scheduled for this course, but we do need to have proper conditions to conduct this course and if the ice is not in we will communicate with the participants to reschedule for a future date**
Snow Travel Gear
Safety Gear (depending on location of climb)
Technical Gear
PGS Supplied
Ropes
Ice screws
Carabiners, quick draws, and slings
First aid kit
Communication device
Yes, other than good fitness, there are no prerequisites to sign up for the course.
We have dates scheduled for this course, but we do need to have proper conditions to conduct this course and if the ice is not in, we will communicate with the participants to reschedule for a future date.
The ratios for the course day are small enough that we should be able to cater to the personal goals of the participants quite easily.
If we climb in the Alpental valley, we usually meet in front of the Alpental lodge at around 8am. Your guide will communicate the exact meeting time and place with you.
The course is designed as an introduction to water ice climbing, so it is unlikely that you will be leading. Depending on your ability, we might make it happen.
We can take the lift up, but the lift ride is not included in the price. If you opt to not take the lift, you can snowshoe or ski tour to the climbing site. Mode of travel to the climbing site is usually decided by the group.
Although tipping is not a requirement, it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or trip cost or a flat amount that you are comfortable with.
