When it comes to ice climbing you either love it or hate it - there is no inbetween! This extreme sport has so many positives though that if you allow yourself to look beyond the cold and the excess strains it puts your body through you may actually come to like it - even love it! Here is why!
 

Why do people love ice climbing?

Ice climbing is a type of outdoor climbing that usually takes place in mountains and other types of terrain during the coldest parts of the year. It allows experienced mountain climbers to push themselves to the limit and train their strengths and weaknesses in the most extreme environment one can find in nature on Earth. And this is only one of the reasons people love it.

Although so far ice climbing may not sound very pleasant for let’s say, a surfer or a diver, for example, it is the holy grail of all mountain climbing for a lot of climbers out there. Another reason they love it is that this is one sport that definitely is able to pump up your adrenaline. Ice is unstable, has a few types you can choose from and its stability highly depends on the weather as well as the experience of the climber and their equipment and technique. This is why you never know how an ice climbing experience will turn up. Will it be calm and nice like a stroll in the park? Will it be challenging and tiring? Only a very experienced and been-through-it-all climber can usually tell. And those of you who are into expecting the unexpected will love that.

Like every other winter sport, ice climbing has this specific way to leave you breathless and extremely satisfied with yourself when you reach that final point of destination at the end of the climb. But this is not all. Along the way you will stumble along magnificent and one-of-a-kind views and ice formations that Mother Nature created herself. Most people never see such things except in photos or on TV. Trust us though, the real thing far surpasses the digital images and films and will give you such a thrill you will want to ice climb again and again and again - just for the chance to experience this magic again!

It is true that ice climbing puts your body to the test. But it also does that to your mind and soul. It puts you to the limit and not only physically, but mentally. It’s a great workout and it will immensely improve your strength and balance. It will also boost your endurance. But make sure you know what you’re getting into since it usually is practiced in spots that don’t allow you to just quit and go home. Nevertheless, experienced ice climbers swear it’s fun and helps you be more focused and calmer in everyday life.

Last but not least, ice climbing is not an expensive sport to get into. You get the thrill without having to put in that much money into it. And once you meet some fellow ice climbers and you click… It can be a very social and enjoyable activity for those of you who like to practice extreme sports as a part of a group.

Why do some people hate ice climbing?

As the joke goes: ice climbing is not coffee or cake and it can’t please everybody! 

Just as with every other thing on the planet, as well as there are ice climbing fans, there are ice climbing haters. And if you recognise yourself in the next lines of text, we highly recommend you do not try it because there’s a 99,9% chance you will hate it. 

First of all, ask yourself, would you rather swim in warm waters or take a hike through a snowy mountain? Or put otherwise: do you prefer warmth to coldness. The answer to this question is very important since ice climbing is one of the extreme sports that will take you outside in the open, in a hostile, possibly windy and very very very cold environment. So, if you would rather enjoy battling a wave under the sun on some sunny beach… this might not turn out to be at all what you expect and you will hate the ice climbing experience. If the cold doesn’t bother you though - congratulations! You’re one step closer to falling in love with ice climbing!

We mentioned the breath-taking views and they are a fact. Before you get to them though you will have to go through a lot of climbing and possibly falling. And if you’ve ever been ice skating or just outside in winter and had the unpleasant surprise of not seeing some ice on your way… well, you know how nasty and hurtful a fall can be. Both of the ego and the body! 

One thing that usually brings people to hate ice climbing is that it may be quite difficult to learn - especially if you don’t have a climbing background. Ice can be and usually is unpredictable, slippery and honestly - far from the easiest surface to do anything on, let alone climbing. And unfortunately, no amount of videos and watching people do it will help you. You will just have to try - again, and again and again. Out in the cold and the wind. You get what we’re trying to tell you here, right?

Even though there is some socializing in ice climbing - like when you find a group or a climbing buddy to work with or learn from, this extreme sport is far from the most social team played ones. So, if you’re a social butterfly and love chatting while you do your extreme sport thing… you will hate ice climbing. 

Last but not least you need to know that you have to have some kind of a minimal fitness level to take on the ice climbing challenge. Even experienced sports people, athletes and ice climbers get exhausted quickly and depending on the route you’ve chosen this can prove at the least discouraging and make you quit and at the worst - result in injury or even a life threatening situation.

All these factors, as well as the fact it’s a seasonal sport and can only be practiced in winter, may or may not reflect on how fun ice climbing is for you on the scale from “Hell yeah” to “Hell no”. 

It’s all up to you to try it, of course, just have in mind these fair warnings!

 

Health and safety during ice climbing

Since ice climbing is an extreme sport - and what is more, one practiced in a harsh environment, you may want to memorize these health and safety precautions very well before heading out to search for a frozen waterfall to climb. 

In essence, ice climbing is just that: the extreme sport of climbing from the bottom to the top of a naturally created ice formation. There are two types of ice - a broad but important qualification. There is alpine ice - found in the mountains, and water ice - can be found in different environments but it's usually considered for climbing when formed around cliffs and beneath water flows. Alpine ice is considered less technical to conquer, but beware - getting to the actual ice climbing includes mountain climbing and hiking you should consider in terms of endurance. Water ice climbing is way more difficult and technical and includes climbing a frozen body of water. There is also mixed climbing that combines ice climbing and rock climbing.

Another important classification you have to know refers to the ice itself. It can be soft, hard, brittle or tough. Depending on that you can be more or less cautious and sometimes - use different equipment. Keep in mind there is special waterfall ice grading for the water ice climbing. Its purpose is to give information about the difficulty of the ice climbing track you’ve chosen, if it’s a well explored one. Always take the time to study the marking of the one you’re chosen so you know if you have the skills as well as the right means to climb it safely and get back.

And speaking of equipment, this is the most important part of our ice climbing health and safety part of the article. Here is all you need to have to successfully take on your first (or next) ice climbing challenge!

Let’s start with the clothes and shoes. Yes, they are not a part of the official ice climbing equipment but are just as important. Learn how to properly layer your clothing and wear as much as possible of it made from fabrics that keep the warmth and don’t let it get out. Invest in thick, warming underwear and thighs, good parka and even better pants, layered with insulation. Search for a jacket that is super warm but at the same time - not too heavy. Always consider the weight you wear - it will be so crucial on your way up while ice climbing it can actually make or break your ice climbing experience. 

The bad news is no matter how confident and good your choice in footwear is… your feet will always get cold. Unfortunately, this is the curse of ice climbing and it cannot be avoided but still - layer socks and search for that pair of boots that is good for winter and will keep you as warm as possible. It is a good idea to invest in footwear with attached crampons so you can be ready to conquer that ice.

The ice climbing equipment itself includes:

• safety harnesses - they are more durable than standalone ropes and harnesses - something important in harsh environments!
• Portable axe for climbing
• an ice climbing helmet
• thick gloves

These are the essentials, but we advise you to consider adding a few more things to the list. Good eyewear is a must on sunny days and at the end of the day your eyes will thank you for the protection you provided them with some good sunglasses. It is advisory to wear a scarf since you will be breathing a lot of cold air. Just as well - put in your body some warm liquids before the climb and have an additional thermos with more for after. Trust us - after your first few hours of ice climbing you will be thankful for taking this advice.

It is a good idea to try ice climbing with an experienced instructor first.