My recent Sunday Mail outdoors column focused on the activity of ice climbing. In Scotland, we have two indoor ice climbing walls for introductory sessions and for training for outdoors ice climbing. Find out more in the pdf or by reading below.
Try ice climbing
What is it?: Ice climbing is the activity of scaling mountain routes when they are covered in ice and snow.
Tell me more: Ice climbing is an increasingly popular winter sport in Scotland thanks to a wide variety of climbing routes.
Many routes, such as those on the North Face of Ben Nevis, are acclaimed worldwide.
Participants use ice axes held in their hands and spiked crampons fixed to boots to help them to climb the ice.
But practice and skill is required before attempting outdoors ice climbing routes.
The Scottish weather can also be fickle and so many climbers practise the sport on indoor climbing walls.
There are two indoor ice climbing facilities, the Ice Factor Kinlochleven in the Highlands, and Snow Factor, located at Soar INTU Braehead, near Glasgow.
Thanks to techniques learned indoors, it’s then possible to progress to outdoors ice climbing, although it’s safer to go with a mountaineering guide before climbing with friends.
Try indoor climbing
Ice climbing walls allow all kinds of climbers, from beginner to expert, to practise year round.
It might seem a bit odd to find ice climbing walls indoors but both Ice Factor and Snow Factor feature exactly that.
Real ice and snow are used in chilled rooms to create artificial walls that feel and look like the real thing.
In fact, the indoor ice climbing wall at the Ice Factor is claimed as the world’s biggest.
Some 500 tonnes of real snow and ice reach to a height of 45ft, with a range of graded routes, in the fridge-like room.
An Ice Factor spokesman said: “Our indoor ice climbing wall is the ideal environment for learning and practising all aspects of ice climbing.
“There are easier angled snow slopes for beginners through to much more challenging vertical ice routes for more experienced climbers.
“Instructors can show people of all skill levels how to climb the ice.”
The giant indoor ice climbing wall at Snow Factor features up to 20 roped climbs to try.
The routes are also graded from easy to challenging – and there is also an overhanging section for a bigger test.
The expert’s view
World acclaimed Scottish climber Dave MacLeod appreciates the opportunity to climb ice, whatever the weather outdoors.
He stated: “Thanks to Scotland’s ice climbing walls there is no need to wait ages for the right weather, walk miles up snowy mountains, or serve your apprenticeship in winter mountaineering skills.
“You just step in a big fridge and start swinging some ice tools.
“Some people will just want to try it for fun, some will want to use it to fine tune their ice climbing technique and some will train for the ice climbing world cup.
“It doesn’t matter because the point is you clock up the metres on real ice without the normal hassles of winter mountaineering.”
The novice’s view
I tried ice climbing at the Snow Factor and found it to be challenging but enjoyable. At first it was hard to trust that the ice axes and crampons would hold me on the ice wall.
The instructor showed me how to place the points of the axes in the ice and kick in the crampon spikes.
It’s important to engage core muscles and to have three points of contact for stability.
I discovered that tense muscles tire quickly and I after about five short routes over an hour I was exhausted.
Practice and experience will make ice climbing a lot more rewarding and then I might even venture outdoors, but with an experienced guide.
What kit do I need?: Climbers should wear their own waterproof jacket and over-trousers, baselayers, hat, gloves and thick socks.
You can either use your own, or hire, ice climbing specific kit including stiff winter mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axes, harness and rope
More information: Indoors ice climbing at Ice Factor at www.ice-factor.co.uk and Snow Factor at www.snowfactor.com. Book mountaineering guides for outdoors ice climbing.