Ice Climbing

An ice ax leash is a piece of strong cord that connects through the loop at the base of an ice ax handle, and is wrapped around the wrist of the user. The leash ensures that if the ax is dropped...

An ice axe is an essential piece of gear for mountaineers. This tool is used for balance and stability on snow, but more importantly is the last line of defense if you take a tumble down a snowy...

Learn how to select the best off-road all-terrain shoes for any excursion. Use these selection tips to buy the highest quality shoes for your toughest workouts.

The crampon is a metal plate that attaches to boots. It offers the stability you need for crossing frozen land, traveling down a slope or canyon, and for climbing up a hill or mountain. There are...

High-altitude mountaineering is a sport that requires considerable strength, endurance and conditioning, but even the hardiest climbers are not immune to the effects of oxygen deprivation. The use...

The invention of crampons revolutionized ice climbing as a sport. New technology has changed the nature of ice climbing, opening up radical new places that people wouldn't have considered climbing...

Ice axes are a multipurpose tool used in mountaineering and climbing. This is perhaps one of the oldest tools used in mountaineering and a representative symbol of mountain climbing throughout...

A carabiner is a crucial piece of rock-climbing equipment--it is the basic tool for linking together ropes, harnesses and anchors. And while they all serve this same general purpose, there are...

Choosing the right climbing harness is an important process. A poor fit will result in pain and potentially injury.

Rock climbing is an exciting sport that requires a mix of skill and physical conditioning. Specific equipment is necessary for staying safe while climbing at your local crag or the south face of...

Preparing for a climb requires a fit and ready body, as for any climbing is very demanding and stressing. A climber feel physically ready through stretching techniques and some basic slow...

You will know if a climbing rope is dirty, because it will begin to turn brown and black. For your own protection, it is important to have all of your climbing gear clean and in working order: A...

As one of the first man-made tools to be invented, knives serve essential purposes for protection as well as other basic cutting functions. With hundreds of knife variations, the ice knife is a...

Climbing is a great extreme sport and can encompass trees to icebergs. Being an activity that requires much dedication and energy, it is best to study the best techniques to climbing to ensure a...

How to learn to rock climb

Little else can give you the satisfaction or exhilaration that climbing a mountain does. In this article you'll learn what kind of climber you want to be and what you will need to achieve your...

An ice ax is a tool used in mountain climbing. The ax cuts through ice and snow on frozen peaks. The ice ax also features an adze for digging into hard snow. A spike on the ax is used like a...

A proper ice axe is an essential part of ice climbing and hiking in cold areas. Hiking or ice climbing without an ice axe can be very dangerous, and selecting the proper ice axe is vital to safety...

An ice ax can literally be a lifesaving tool when backpacking. Mountaineers typically use an ice ax when ice climbing, but its uses are not limited to just ice climbing. Anyone who regularly hikes...

Although ice climbing and rock climbing are similar in terms of the nature of the sport, different equipment is required for each. The equipment used for ice climbing is much more specialized,...

Once you know how to belay, you might run into a situation where you are belaying someone heavier than you. When you do this, it is important to tie your harness into an anchor. This will keep...

Ice climbing is a winter sport that occurs in temperatures below freezing. Clothing must be worn properly for safety and comfort. Layer clothing and use water-repellant fabrics to stay dry and...

Having sharpened ice climbing tools can be a matter of life and death when scaling a virtual wall of ice. You want to have the sharpest points possible since your tools must hold you under...

An ice ax is an extremely valuable--some say essential--tool for navigating through icy and mountainous terrain. Far from being a tool of convenience, an ice ax can be the difference between life...

Not for the faint of heart, ice climbing is an extreme winter sport that has grown in popularity over the last few decades. Much like rock climbing, safe ice climbing relies on smart placement of...

For all of you ladies out there who have ever thought about trying ice climbing, you should definitely attend a Chicks With Picks course! Offered in both Ouray, Colorado and North Conway, New...

A Munter Hitch is a knot that is commonly used in rock climbing as a belay hitch, for rappelling, or to hold a load in conjunction with a mule knot. Most often, it's used as a rappelling knot if...

A double fisherman's knot is often used in rock climbing to tie two ropes of equal or different diameters together. Here is a simple step-by-step article on how to properly tie this important knot.

Ice climbing is an extreme and exhilarating sport with aficionados claiming that the rush that comes from completing a climb is second to none. Climbing a rock face covered with snow or ice is...

Rock climbers often dread the coming of winter when snow and ice put a damper on their favorite sport. But it doesn't have to be that way. Many climbers have taken climbing adventures further by...

Mountain climbing is no mean task. Before you do,know your psychological, physical strengths and weaknesses.Meaning you to be medically certified fit.High altitude in mountains brings sickness...

With nerves of steel, sport climbers have continually turned to ice climbing in order to up the anty. Ice climbing demands extreme skill and persistence. Joining your local ice climbing group will...

Whether you're a seasoned ice climber or wanting to try your hand at the sport, the Ouray Ice Festival is the place to be! From clinics to demo gear, they've got everything you need to learn and...

So you've heard about ice climbing and don't know where to go? Join the sport's enthusiasts in Ouray, Colorado for some of the finest natural and man-made ice climbing routes in the country!

Ice climbing is a serious sport and requires practice, determination and physical fitness. Climbing is done only in the winter season, so it is advisable to venture out for an ice climbing...

Ice climbing is a sport derived from classic mountaineering that started in Europe in the 1800s. The extreme sport's popularity grew in the early 1900s as ice climbing tools became more advanced....

An ice bollard is an anchor-like system made directly from ice to provide belay help for lowering yourself or equipment during climbing. In general, an ice bollard is only attempted by...

There are actually two ways to grade an ice climb: based on technical rating and based on the length of the climb. The technical rating is used to grade the pitch or slope of a mountain and it's...

There are so many styles and sizes of ice axes that learning to use them usually requires professional instruction and several days of practice. If you haven't bought your ice axe yet, you should...

While the advice to dress warm for ice climbing may seem obvious, you'd be surprised as to how many climbers are underdressed for a climb. This is because once you start moving, your body...

When climbing, it's important to keep in mind that you're not the first or the last person to touch that area. Experienced climbers have a high respect for the mountain and follow a set of rules...

Whether you only climb occasionally or you're a pro, the dangers of being involved in an avalanche are high. Mountain weather changes quickly and once you're caught in an avalanche, there's very...

Crampons are special metal spikes added to boots and shoes to allow climbers to hold on to (or walk on) ice and snow. There are different types of crampons available: for vertical ice climbing,...

Choosing the right type of climbing boots can make a big difference in your mountain climbing experience. Not only will the right pair of boots keep you warm, but they will also protect your feet...

Rope systems are one of the most common tools used for climbing. Because they are easier to learn than belaying and freehand climbing, they are favored by beginners and by solo climbers. There are...

V threads are used as man-made anchors when there are no natural fasteners to which you can attach a rope for a climbing descent. For those climbing without using rope and anchor systems, this...

If you are into extreme sports or simply love rock-climbing, you may want to consider ice climbing. It is a cold and dangerous sport, but thrilling and rewarding also. If you decide this is right...

Ice climbing is an exhilarating sport that is quickly gaining recognition and momentum. However, before ever attempting an initial run, realize that ice climbing is an extreme sport that requires...

Pack your crampons, ice axe and cold weather gear and head out to your nearest glacier for some ice climbing. There's something satisfying about ascending a frozen waterfall or ice-coated rock...

Learn how to ice climb by taking ice climbing lessons from a professional, reading books, watching videos and reviewing any other mountain and ice climbing material or information you can get your...