Climbing activities of one form or another are one of the oldest known extreme sports.
For as long as we can remember, the bolder among us have felt an insatiable need to climb tall mountains.
But climbing rocky, even snowy mountains is one thing—what about ice climbing?
Ice climbing is just what it sounds like: ascending inclines formed entirely of ice with specialized equipment. It can be subdivided into alpine ice climbing and water ice climbing. Ice climbing might involve climbing forezn waterfalls, cliffs covered with ice, and icefalls.
Ice climbing is certainly a very dangerous extreme sport, although modern equipment makes it much safer than it ever was.
The attraction is fairly obvious, in that it is almost a more extreme extension of ordinary rock and mountain climbing.
That said, it’s also often a necessary part of ascending many mountains which are covered with ice at their peaks.
Let’s find out more.
What do ice climbers do?
Ice climbers, as the name suggests, scale large inclines of ice.
There are many different contexts in which this can be done.
In a lot of ways, ice climbing is much the same as rock climbing.
But the ins and outs of it are quite a bit different.
I’ll get more into the differences shortly.
Ice climbers will use a lot of pointed tools to climb sheets of ice, and these sheets of ice can be formed from many different things.
Some of the most common are icefalls—which are parts of glaciers which move rapidly compared to the rest of the glacier–, waterfalls that have completely frozen, and any sheer surface which has been covered by ice, like a cliff face.
As I said, ice can be divided into two categories: Alpine and water ice.
Alpine ice is found exclusively in a mountain environment, with an approach taking place before it can be reached.
This kind of ice is frozen precipitation.
Water ice, on the other hand, is from a flow of liquid water.
Water ice is typically a much greater technical challenge and selected as a climbing location for this reason.
Alpine ice is usually just a necessary part of a longer route, typically to the summit of a mountain.
Ice climbers will employ specialized spiked boots which give them a good foothold in the ice, as well as ice picks to haul themselves up.
Climbers are harnessed to the wall via hooks and ropes just as with regular climbing.
How difficult is it, then?
How difficult is ice climbing?
Ice climbing is an inherently difficult sport—there’s no two ways about that.
It requires a great deal of physical strength, fortitude, and commitment.
However, ice climbing is difficult in a very different way to how ordinary rock climbing is.
Ice climbing is considered to be a great deal more arduous than ordinary rock climbing, if requiring a deal less precision and technical skill.
So, ice climbing is massively physically demanding.
But once you have the hang of it, it’s mostly just a case of steeling yourself for a long and arduous climb.
That makes it harder for some people than for others—some people just have more stamina for that sort of thing.
In any case, ice climbing is difficult, however you look at it.
But how else is it different from more ordinary rock climbing?
How is ice climbing different from rock climbing?
There are a number of technical ways in which rock climbing is different from ice climbing.
Firstly, it’s a lot more dangerous.
Falls are the main problem, as falls from an ice climb are far more problematic than rock climbing.
So, you need to be really confident in your ability to never fall while ice climbing.
You also use much different equipment, as I touched on.
You’ll also need ice climbing screws, placed in the face of the ice to catch falls.
They require placement in a very different way to how ordinary rock-climbing screws are placed.
Your rope systems will differ as well.
A single rope setup is usually adequate for rock climbing.
Ice climbing requires a dry treated rope to prevent moisture from getting into them.
You’ll also need a half system rather than a single rope, to reduce friction.
So, which is easier?
Is ice climbing easier than rock climbing?
There are two ways of looking at this, and it largely depends on you as an individual.
Rock climbing is often physically harder because you have to account for a wider range of factors.
Ice climbing, once you have the requisite calf and forearm strength, can be more of a simple affair.
But there is a hugely increased mental strain involved with ice climbing, largely due to the fact that you cannot fall.
You need to be able to remain calm in this situation, and this can take a significant mental toll.
So, overall, ice climbing is more difficult in some key ways—you are at greater risk, most likely in worse weather conditions, making it overall the more difficult sport.
Climbing ice has been something we, as a species, have needed to do for a long time, for one reason or another.
As with many extreme sports, it has in the modern day become something we do just for the thrill of it alone, whether just the ice climb or if the ice climb is part of a longer climb.
If you’re wondering about trying it, then it’s certainly a good hobby to get into, though it’s not easy!
