Steep Ice Climbing Skills

[rbirk]

An article from 2011, but have some good info:

http://www.climbing.com/news/steep-ice-skills-special/

[rbirk]

And here's a short video where Will Gadd is demonstrating perfect technique:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjMVSlQilKk

[johngassel]

I love that video. We actually showed it at one of the Boston lectures last year.

Probably important to note that this video demonstrates perfect steep ice pillar technique. When climbing a pillar you have to be more gentle and flag as Will demonstrates. On just plain steep ice, you can climb it more efficiently with the triangle method.

[alissadoherty]

I've watched a fair number of ice technique and instructional video and I think this is one of the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZaYlJh7buY. It features local hardman, Peter Doucette, and is worth watching in its entirety. He covers tool placement, swing, footwork, movement, and bulge clearing. Great stuff.