Our Ice Climbing Courses are hotel based so you should not need an extras that are needed for an overnight in a hut.

Dressing properly for the mountains can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and an uncomfortable one. Clothing should give the right degree of warmth for the activity, wick perspiration and be easy to ventilate. You should avoid clothes made from cotton as they become cold and clammy when wet.

I will supply all ropes and climbing hardware.

Equipment List

  • Comfortable clothes for your stay in the hotel with suitable footwear to potentially walk in the snow around your destination resort, normally the village of Leysin
  • Waterproof, breathable jacket
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Down jacket such as the Arc’teryx Cerium AR
  • 3/4 season mountaineering boots (B3 or stiff B2 Boots)
  • Warm Gloves and spares as they do get wet
  • Thinner fleece gloves –
  • Thermal Tops x 2 –
  • Mid-layer Power stretch Top – such as the Arc’teryx Fortrez Hoody
  • Mid-layer warmer insulating piece
  • Mountain trousers
  • Warm hat to fit under a helmet
  • Trekking socks and spares
  • The guide will have the correct maps and guidebooks
  • Compass and whistle (optional).
  • Head torch and spare batteries
  • Rucksack 40 to 50 litres
  • Small personal first aid kit (tape for blisters and pain killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen).
  • Thermos flask for hot drinks in the winter
  • Pen Knife
  • Sunglasses – (Cat 4 rating is preferable)
  • Sun cream (factor 25+, total block) and lip block
  • Trekking Poles
  • Money, Passport
  • Camera

Technical Equipment

  • A pair of technical ice tools – such as the Petzl Charlet Quark, Petzl Chalet Nomic or the Grivel Matrix
  • Crampons with vertical front points
  • Helmet
  • Harness
  • Belay plate with screwgate karabiner – such as the Petzl Reverso 4 and HMS screwgate karabiner
  • 2 x HMS screwgate karabiners
  • 2 x Prusik Cord with 1 x snapgate karabiner – Prusik cord is generally 5 or 6mm in diameter & about 130cm in length. The prusik cord is then knotted together using a fishermans knot to create a tied loop. This tied loop (now about 45cm in its doubled-up length) can now be used to make prussik knots (prusiks are used in crevasse rescue and when ascending ropes which is called prussiking)
  • Sewn tape sling A 120cm Sewn Dyneema tape sling is perfect for snow & rock belays