Intro to Ice Climbing

A one-day first taste of frozen waterfall climbing in Cogne, one of the densest concentrations of ice in Europe. You'll spend the day on top rope on real ice, learning to swing a tool so it sticks, stand on your front points instead of hanging off your arms, and move up a vertical line without burning out. No climbing experience is needed, and everything technical is provided except boots. Outline: Kit and safety briefing, moving on crampons, knots and belaying, tool placement and front pointing, then climbing on a frozen waterfall on top rope with as many laps as the day allows. Full syllabus below. Who it's for: Complete beginners, including people who have never climbed anything. You need to be fit enough for a 30 to 45min walk in to the ice with a pack and to be active outdoors in the cold for a full day. Ice climbing is hard on the forearms and hands, so expect to be tired. The main thing you need to bring is a tolerance for cold feet and hands. Gear: Ice tools, crampons, harness, helmet and ropes are provided. You must bring stiff mountaineering boots that take crampons (B2 or B3), which rent in Cogne for roughly €20 to 25 a day, and proper winter clothing with warm gloves. Trainers, soft walking boots and ski boots will not work. Bad weather: We climb in cold and snow, which is normal for the venue. If a route is out of condition, unsafe from above or thawing, we move to one of the other lines in the valley. In heavy snowfall with a high avalanche bulletin we use a short, road-side venue with no approach hazard, or run the day on a rescheduled date.

• Stiff mountaineering boots that take crampons (B2 or B3), rentable locally

• warm socks

• waterproof jacket and trousers

• warm midlayer

• insulated jacket for belaying

• two or three pairs of gloves so you always have a dry pair

• hat

• sunglasses

• rucksack 25 to 35 L

• packed lunch and a hot drink

• charged phone