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What Makes An Ice Climber?
By Ashley Barnard
Ice climbing is not for the faint at heart. This exhilarating and dangerous sport takes
participants into some of nature¡¯s fiercest and most beautiful elements and requires
strength, stamina and the willingness to stay outside for long periods of time in
below-freezing weather.
Many ice climbers describe the experience as electrifying and exhilarating. The
danger involved in scaling vertical cascades of ice can create an amazing
adrenaline rush, and reaching the top of a difficult and steep ice or snow formation
can leave a climber with a tremendous sense of personal achievement. Ice
climbing often is done in a surreal ice world of frozen waterfalls, huge icicles and
compacted snow slides.
Ice climbers, even those one-day experimenters, need to have a basic level of
physical fitness. Ice climbing requires brute force and good technique, as climbers
uses ice picks and crampons, which are sharp steel claws that attach to boots, to
make their way up the ice. Many climbing schools offer one-day excursions that
usually involve shorter climbs up a gentle slope. Experienced climbers, however,
will ascend vertical and sometimes overhanging ice walls, which requires excellent
physical conditioning, stamina, courage and technique.
Ice climbing can be done on all levels, from one-day climbs to a lifetime pursuit. For
those who want a one-time thrill, it is recommended that they hire a guide or take a
class on the basics, then go with more experienced climbers. Climbing schools
offer one-day classes, but it is recommended that beginners take two- or three-day
classes so that they can spend adequate time learning climbing techniques before
attempting a climb. Classes and guides can cost several hundred dollars, and they
are offered at many popular ice-climbing sites. Rock climbing experience is helpful,
but some short ice-climbing excursions will take people with no experience.
For those who are serious about the sport, then you can read more about it at Cold Climbs.co.uk Ice climbing can be an expensive
investment. Serious climbers not only travel to places to climb, but they also need to
buy the basic equipment of crampons, boots, ice axes, belaying devices, ice screws
and a helmet. Ice climbers also need warm clothing that will keep them comfortable
in extremely cold weather.
Ice climbing offers athletes the opportunity to continually challenge their physical
fitness. The growing popularity of the ice climbing, including the proliferation of
manmade ice formations that has brought the sport closer to home for many, has
made ice climbing more accessible to more people. For those who are daredevils
at heart and love a never-ending challenge, ice climbing can open the doors to
satisfying and thrilling outdoor adventures.
About the Author
Ashley Barnard is an experienced ice climber, and has been ice climbing around the world for the past 15 years, his resent ventures have taken him into the artic to find more exposed icy locations for ever looking for that ultimate ice climb
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/8842.html
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| Some other articles by Ashley Barnard | |
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