Ice Climbing!

As you might imagine from the name, ice climbing is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations.

Usually ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water.

Ice climbing is divided into two spheres: alpine ice and water ice.

Alpine ice is found in mountain environments, usually requires an approach to reach, and is often climbed in the attempt to summit a mountain. Water ice is usually found on a cliff or other outcropping beneath water flows.

Alpine ice is frozen precipitation whereas water ice is a frozen liquid flow of water. Both types of ice vary greatly in consistency according to weather conditions. The ice can be soft, hard, brittle or tough.