Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 14, 2011 - 02:17pm PT
|
What's the draw? Looks like you just slam in a pick and kick in your crampons. Am I missing something?
|
|
mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 02:24pm PT
|
It's aid climbing isn't that the point?
|
|
hoipolloi
climber
A friends backyard with the neighbors wifi
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 02:30pm PT
|
Is rock climbing just grabbing holds and pulling up? Sounds lame.
|
|
ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 02:39pm PT
|
What's the draw? Looks like you just slam in a pick and kick in your crampons. Am I missing something?
Yeah, that's pretty much it.
|
|
chill
climber
between the flat part and the blue wobbly thing
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 02:40pm PT
|
In my experience it is more dangerous (the pro sucks), scarier (ice isn't the most stable substance in the world) and more painful (freeze hands, thaw them out at the belay, then repeat) than rock climbing by far.
|
|
HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 02:46pm PT
|
totally boring
Just like aid. (not really)
You're handicapped since you grew up in San Jose and ice is an alien environment for you.
Ya gotta love hard work, even just getting there, blowing snow, cold hands and feet, moments of terror even while belaying (I REALLY hope he doesn't fall). Often long runouts.
Spectacular views of remote mountains (when it's not storming). No crowds (usually).
A requirement for getting up most of the good alpine routes in the world.
Is it as easy as it looks? You'll have to try it to find out!
"The leader shall not fall, and neither shall the second"
|
|
J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:15pm PT
|
Is it as easy as it looks?
No.
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:21pm PT
|
The new leash less tools free you up and give a more creative rock climbing feel. Get's you into some incredible places and opens up the world of alpine climbing.
|
|
karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2011 - 03:23pm PT
|
Some very cool responses. Seems like a fun way to see some otherwise inaccesable areas.
|
|
hb81
climber
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:24pm PT
|
Anything but easy from my experience. Hammering the tools in is one thing, but finding out what will hold and what won't is another. Same goes for crampon placements. Protection can be dubious. Falling is not an really an option with about two dozen sharp pointy metal things attached to you.
It's also really really strenuous. If you're climbing vertical ice it feels like it's overhanging due to the tools sticking out from the surface.
Your hands freeze and when they come back alive it can be surprisingly painful.
Apart from that it's really fkin fun when you stay within safe limits according to your experience and ability.
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:37pm PT
|
if you want to check it out, the Ouray Ice Park is the best place on the Planet to get started and develop technique. 180 plus climbs of all grades, 95 percent can be easily top roped and your only minutes from town and a hot springs.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:41pm PT
|
Isn’t this sort of like trying to compare the difficulty of playing one musical instrument to another?
One instrument may appear simpler or more straightforward than another, but every instrument, when played well, to a high level of expression, becomes equally difficult.
|
|
hb81
climber
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:48pm PT
|
Oh one more thing: going ice climbing can feel like you're going on a serious expedition due to all the stuff that you have to carry and or wear. (heavy boots, lotsa clothes, tools, crampons, ice screws...)
And that stuff can cost a lot of money too. If you just wanna try it out borrow as much equipment as you can.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 03:48pm PT
|
With modern boots, crampons, ice screws, tools and techniques ice climbing seems a lot easier than it used to be. But it's still often miserable hard work, and always dangerous. Even ice toproping. And it is usually a very bad idea to fall while ice climbing.
|
|
MisterE
Social climber
MEEP MEEP
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 04:01pm PT
|
Screaming Barfies! Good times...
|
|
TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 04:12pm PT
|
But what about lycra? There's no lycra!
|
|
hb81
climber
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 04:23pm PT
|
Climbing a frozen waterfall and being able to hear and sometimes even see the water flowing behind the ice is a very interesting experience. I was only following but still it scared the crap outta me. Visions of the whole damn thing collapsing etc...
|
|
EWG
Trad climber
Vermont
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2011 - 04:34pm PT
|
ice climbing takes you to the most amazing places.
in my opinion, not nearly as enjoyable overall as rock climbing, but it's not a competition. ice climbing is a beautiful (and sometimes terrifying and miserable) adventure.
don't sell ice short because it's not rock.
-e
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!