In this video we take a look at basic ice climbing techniques.

1. When starting out, practice on top rope.

2. Tackle lower angle ice routes first to hone good footwork and swinging technique.

3. Take short steps. A high step can potentially throw you off balance and is more fatiguing.

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In this video we look at a variety of ways to grab your ice tool to save energy and make you more efficient.

When swinging the ice tool, the pinky will rest in the holder at the bottom of the handle.

While climbing, however, you may grab above that hand. Matching both hands onto one tool al...

In this video we review alternate vs. horizontal placement while ice climbing.

Alternate Placements - In a typical ice climbing scenario, the climber will be using two tools, and the placements of both your hands and feet will be staggered, which limits the number of swings or kicks to gain al...

In this video we discuss the wisdom of wearing eye protection when ice climbing.

Ice is a brittle substance. It will fracture and shatter with nearly every swing of your tool. Imagine rock climbing where little shards of rock splinter off every time you grab a hold.

It’s important to wear ...

In this video we look at how to adjust crampons for ice climbing.

When putting on crampons:

1. Have a seat, put up your foot, and make sure the front welt of your boot is free of any snow. Check that you have the right crampon for the right foot.

2. Adjust the frame size of the crampon...

In this video we look at two major types of ice climbing crampon styles: mono-point and dual-point.

Mono-point crampons - These have a single point at the front of of the crampon. These require less effort to get the placement deeper in the ice, since there is only one point to be pushed into ...

In this video we discuss the importance of protecting the rope while ice climbing.

When ice climbing we use several sharp tools, and one soft one: our rope.

One simple technique is to swing the ice tool off to the side, or move the rope aside with your hand before you swing or kick.

B...

Ice climbing can be strenuous. Like in rock climbing, the more we can rely on our feet, the better. In this video, we look at ways to improve footwork techniques on the ice.

1. Setup a top rope on a low angle climb.

2. Ditch the ice tools, and practice climbing (while on top rope) using on...

In this video we look at the technique to climb over bulges in the ice. Climbing over bulges, also known as mantling, can become unnecessarily challenging without proper technique, resulting in what some refer to as the “fish flop.”

1. Do not reach your ice tools too far over the bulge. You wi...

In this video we look at how to “hook” with your ice tools.

Hooking is useful when the ice is thin, or too brittle to swing into, but you can still slot the pick behind the ice and pull on it.

Hooking is also used by the follower, who can draft the leader’s pick holes and save a lot of ene...

In this video we talk about the risk of a leader fall—which is particularly dangerous on ice. Falling with so many sharp items is a bad idea. This is why it is important to top rope a lot, in order to build technical skills well above the level at which you lead ice.

1. Keep your feet away fro...

DANGER! This is an advanced technique that is hotly debated among strong ice climbers, and is NOT relevant to someone watching ClimbingTechTips to learn about ice climbing. It is in no way backed up by standard industry practices, and is certainly not recommended by gear manufacturers who make mo...

In this video we look at how to place ice screws. Ice screws offer protection for the lead climber in the event of a fall, the same way cams and stoppers do in rock climbing. Below are the steps for placing ice screws:

Step 1: Turn one foot sideways if possible to help create a more comfortabl...

In this video we review how to secure the belayer at the anchor. This is similar to rock climbing with a few nuances.

One thing that is different is that you will need to secure the belayer to an anchor at the base of the mountain—this is mainly due to ice being a slippery and, in some ways, a...

In this video we discuss the importance of sharpening crampons and ice tools and crampons.

Crampon:
- All points of the crampons should be reasonably sharp, not only the front point(s).
- Frequency and type of use will determine how often they need to be sharpened. If you are doing a lot of ...

In this video we review how to create, and rappel from, a v-thread anchor. A v-thread anchor is drilled into the ice in a V shape, using only a small length of cord which is left behind.

Below are the steps for creating a v-thread anchor:

Step 1: Using a longer ice screw (22 cm), drill a ho...