| If you enjoy rock climbing, winters can be | | | | you are climbing on is frozen, you need to dress to |
| problematic since most of your favorite climbs aren't | | | | prevent frostbite. This is true for everything from |
| exactly accessible. Ice climbing may just be the | | | | the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. If |
| answer to your problem. | | | | you don't dress properly, you can run into a situation |
| If you have experience rock climbing, you may just | | | | where even minimal frostbite occurs. Once off the |
| think it is a hop, skip and jump to being able to | | | | ice, the blood will start to return to the effected |
| handle ice climbing. Nothing could be further from the | | | | areas and it can be incredibly painful. How painful? |
| truth. Yes, some of the terminology is the same, but | | | | Think of someone sticking lots of needles in the area |
| the technique is not even close. Your mastery of | | | | in question. |
| various finger holds isn't going to be much help or | | | | Perhaps the biggest thing you need to accept is you |
| even relevant. | | | | need to climb with others that are experienced. Ice |
| Ice climbing is an absolute blast once you get past | | | | climbing is a unique technique. For experienced rock |
| the fact you are essentially climbing water. The urge | | | | climbers, it can be hard to admit a little help and |
| to just start doing it is something you have to be | | | | advice is a good idea. Unless you want to risk a |
| wary of. First off, you need the correct equipment. | | | | major problem, you are just going to have to check |
| Much of your rock climbing equipment simply isn't | | | | your ego at the door. Find an experienced ice climber |
| gong to cut it. Instead of climbing shoes, you need | | | | and spend a day with them. You will be surprised at |
| crampons and boots. Your handy dandy axe is going | | | | how much you learn and rather shocked at the |
| to be critical and you need to master the technique | | | | mistakes you would have made. |
| before even thinking of climbing. | | | | Much like rock climbing, ice is a blast. Just don't |
| Dressing warmly is obviously a major issue. You need | | | | assume skills in one niche translate to the other. |
| warm, but flexible clothing. Whenever the surface | | | | |