Climbing is a sport of improvement in which you can find a wide variety of modalities: sport climbing, classic climbing and, why not? Ice climbing. How do you climb on ice? Obviously, apart from the material that is normally used for the activity, other types of tools are necessary. Let's find out which ones.
To practice ice climbing you need to have previous experience in any other type of climbing, as it is difficult and if you are not familiar with the materials and techniques it will be almost impossible for you to advance. In addition special equipment is needed such as ice axes that you will carry in your hands and stick into the ice to help you climb and crampons, used on the sole of the boot that will ensure greater fixation.
You can find several types of walls, those with soft snow and those with pure ice. The preferred thing for professional or highly experienced climbers are frozen waterfalls, but there is a great variety and with each one you can find different techniques during the ascent and subsequent descent.
Equipment
It is very important that you go with all the necessary material, both personal and safety. Therefore, the main thing to keep in mind is to be warm and with waterproof and breathable clothing, since the cold and humidity in the mountains are bad companions. As for the essential elements you have to take into account: boots, crampons, ice axes and garlochas (raincoats that cover the joint between pants and boots).
As for the safety elements that you cannot forget, we have the ropes (remember that they have to be special for snow), nails, stakes and rock anchors (as you can find rocky areas during the promotion). It goes without saying that you have to remember the straps, jackets, harness, heatsinks, blocking elements and descenders.
Another piece of advice that you have to keep in mind is that whoever is opening the way has to have enough experience to carry out such an act. Likewise, it is recommended that you know the area in which the outing is going to take place, so that you can provide the rest with the necessary instructions so that the development of the activity is carried out completely normally.
The meetings that will assure us when we reach the end of the road and will be dismantled at the end of the activity are important. Since we are ice climbing, we have to keep in mind that the Screws have to be quite far apart from each other, why? Because ice, if it breaks, usually breaks in blocks.
To do them we will have to place insurance (in the meantime we will secure ourselves to the ice axes) and once placed we will secure ourselves to it. The ideal is to make a triangle, either with three screws or with two and an ice axe. If the wall is mixed (ice + rock) much better to hold the meeting there, but yes, we will have to use rock screws. Another good support point would be a ledge that we find in the ice, taking care that the carabiner is not too far from the edge.
Once the meeting is over, we will secure the partner using a dynamic knot (never static, as it could be dangerous). When we are going to do the next pitch and outside the meeting, the main thing is to place another insurance and thus we will avoid possible falls. For this, the best thing is a dissipating rope.
With these recommendations, preparation and the help of colleagues who have taken climbing courses or are experts in the field, we will be ready for a day ice climbing.
