Ice Climbing

Extreme Sports At Its Chilliest

 Ice climbing is an extreme sports enthusiasts way or mountain climbing but without the rocks for support. The climber adds the element of danger by climbing a frozen waterfall or cliffs with frozen ice upon them. 

The climber may choose to climb alpine ice which is frozen rain and fog or water ice which is a frozen water fall or other stream or brook that is frozen vertically.

Ice climbing is a dangerous extreme sport because the slippery nature of the ice and the chance that the ice might detach itself from the wall. Many ice climbers have been killed with the ice gives way and the fall and the weight of the ice crushes them. You should be an expert rock climber before you attempt ice climbing.

The extreme sports of ice climbing and mountain climbing is different, but many of the techniques can be intermixed. The ice climber has to make of a decision to what kind of equipment they need according to the quality of the ice and the grade of the climb. The ice climber needs to wear warm clothing but at the same time have the clothing flexible enough for him or her to move freely while on the ice. Mountaineering boots should be bought for ice climbing with the consideration of ankle support and warmth as guidelines.

The tools the ice climber chooses also depend on the type of ice they are climbing. For low angled ice slopes an ice axe can be used chop steps into the ice so that the climber can get good footing. For steep slopes crampons, or spikes that fit around your boot, should be used to keep a steady foot hold on the side of the ice.

Vertical climbs need to be done with both an ice axe and crampons. The crampons will hold your feet firmly to the ice wall while an ice axe in each hand will hold the climber's upper body to that same wall. Using both tools is called front pointing. The climber will swing their legs back one at a time to push the crampons into the ice and lift with their legs.

The next move is to swing the axe above your head and implant in the ice. You lift with your legs and pull toward the axe with your hands to move up the ice. This is one of extreme sports most dangerous sports. Do not attempt a vertical wall until you have been trained and have some experience on less of an incline.

Ice climbing uses some of the same techniques as mountain climbing. No matter what kind of extreme sports expert you are, to ice climb you must have the basic moves down or you will fail at the sports.

Do not just read a book on the subject and try the sport. Get expert training from a skilled professional. Practice on some boulders or large rocks. To go straight to an ice cliff and begin climbing is a big mistake. That mistake could cost you your life.

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Author: Peter Charalambos


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