Ice climbing

Description
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. For the purposes of
climbing, ice can be broadly divided into two spheres,
alpine ice and water ice.
When, where and how started
The first known ice climbing competition was
organized in Courmayeur on the Brenva glacier in
the year 1912. Maybe later there were some more
events around the world.
Started in Russia when the people practiced
climbing in the rest of the world started to
practiced the ice climbing in this country.
 Equipment
Some of the necessary pieces of ice-climbing equipment
include ice-tools, a helmet, harness, warm clothes, several pairs
of gloves and technical climbing gear (rope, ice screws, etc).
"Crampons (ice picks on the bottom of your boots) need full
contact with the ice to be effective; ice axes need to be solid, like
an axe in a block of wood; and body position is everything,"
according to ice-climber Darryl Leniuk.
It is also important to find a climbing partner or be willing to
hire a professionally certified guide each time you want to
climb, as you never want to climb alone. Not only is it more
enjoyable to climb with someone else, it is a safety precaution to
always have a skilled partner with you.
 Safety
Ice climbing can be a relatively safe adventure sport as long as
the proper precautions are taken. However, regardless of how
careful climbers are or how diligently they might prepare for a
climb, there are no guarantees that everything will go smoothly.
Chunks of ice known as "dinner plates" can break off of ice walls,
avalanches can occur, plus climbers must constantly be on the
lookout for crevasses. Because of the inherent risks of ice
climbing, enthusiasts must learn how to properly use their
equipment, how to set up safe anchors and belays and also how
to deal with common ice climbing injuries. The icy climate can
also be a dangerous factor, so the importance of being prepared
cannot be stressed highly enough.
 Getting started
Hire an instructor specific to ice-climbing. The
instructor can help you develop your climbing skills in
a controlled environment. The instructor will educate
you on knots, ice-climbing safety, ice-bouldering,
belays, anchors, top roping techniques, multi-pitch
climber as a follower, as well as ice and avalanche
hazard evaluation.