Description

Advanced Ice Climbing Course Bergschule Lechtal Tyrol

Many things in mountain sports are complex. Especially when mountaineers enter alpine terrain.

And in winter, this has its pitfalls. The avalanche situation must be assessed. The time window for completing multi-pitch ice routes, including approach and descent, must be calculated based on the given conditions. Climbers must consider the ice formation, ice quality, and any sun exposure or water seepage. Route planning, which we mostly do at our desk, but we’re well advised to factor in current conditions so the adventure doesn’t end at the base of the waterfall ice formation with everyone having to turn back.

Once at the formation, we need to reassess, choose tactics, and then it’s go time:

Clean work with ice tools and crampons is the name of the game.

Belays must not only be built correctly but positioned according to icefall delta and climbing direction.

Beyond that, it means staying dry and avoiding cold feet and fingers.

Focus areas:

• Assessment of ice quality and ice formation (ISM method)
• Improving climbing technique, climbing vertical ice
• Leading, lead training, half-rope technique
• Rope team procedures (ascent and descent/rappelling)
• Belay construction (series connection, fixed equalization)
• Belaying second and leader from fixed point
• Introduction to rescue techniques
• Route planning and avalanche knowledge

Optionally incl. 3x overnight stay+breakfast+lunch pack at Basecamp Gramais

• Arrival and check-in the evening before the first course day
• Accommodation per person per night € 59.00
• Breakfast+lunch pack per day € 22.00 (includes lunch pack for the climbing day)
• incl. tourist tax (€ 2.60 per person per night)

Basecamp Gramais is less than a 5-minute walk from our three practice ice climbing walls.
We can reach two more areas within approx. 40 min (flat approach with snowshoes).
Another 2 areas are located in alpine terrain and can be reached within approx. 80 min from Basecamp. Here we use our Siberian Huskies as support during the approach.

Base | Meeting point

Mountain School Lechtal | Basecamp Gramais | A 6650 Gramais 17

Photo credit: © mafia-photography.com