Ice Climbing Basics

Ice Climbing Basics Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Enjoy a relaxing evening on your own in Lincoln, NH to before starting your climbing adventure in the morning.

  Your trip begins today in Lincoln, New Hampshire.  Arrive at your leisure at the hotel in Lincoln this evening.  Dinner tonight is on your own and there are many local restaurants near your hotel.  Rest well tonight before our first day of climbing instruction tomorrow.  Meals are on your own.

• Day 2 Ice Climbing instruction begins! Learn new techniques and skills for ice climbing.

  Enjoy a continental breakfast at the hotel and be ready to meet your guides in the lobby at 8:00 a.m. After a brief orientation, we caravan to the climbing area deemed best by our professional guides based on local conditions at the time.  Once we’ve arrived, we’ll begin the approach to the climbing area.  At the base of our first climbs, your guides will conduct an instructional session on site awareness, equipment use and fundamentals.  Throughout the day, expect ongoing instruction on other important considerations for ice climbing, including proper clothing, technique, ideal foods and more.  After we are through climbing, we’ll return to the hotel where you will be free to head out for dinner on your own, or we may choose to have dinner as a group at a local restaurant. Instruction and Climbing: 6 – 7 hours. Continental breakfast at hotel included; all other meals on your own.

  Note: Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten constantly throughout the day as snacks—high carbohydrate foods, trail mix, energy bars, energy drinks, etc.

• Day 3 Practice the skills you learned yesterday and further your ice climbing techniques.

  After a continental breakfast, check out of the hotel and meet your fellow climbers and guides in the lobby in preparation for another fun filled day on the ice. Our guides will again select a prime climbing spot to maximize and build on the skills developed by the group on Day 2. Expect a learning progression in technique along with plenty of time to practice and hone fundamental skills. We will be wrapping up our course around 4:30 in the afternoon to allow ample travel time home. If scheduling flights out, plan accordingly (for example, plan to fly out of Manchester at 7:00 pm at the earliest). Continental breakfast at hotel included; all other meals on your own.

  Note: Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten constantly throughout the day as snacks—high carbohydrate foods, trail mix, energy bars, energy drinks, etc.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm that the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a very limited number of single accommodations available.

Professional instruction and guiding; two hotel nights (based on double occupancy); all group climbing gear; group first-aid kit; technical equipment and permits.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; transportation to climbing sites (up to 25 miles each way per day); insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages (please do not bring); meals; guide gratuities, energy foods & energy drinks, and items of a personal nature.

Manchester, NH: Manchester Airport (MHT), 65 miles

There is no reliable transfer service from any airport to our meeting place. Anticipate renting a car if flying in for this weekend getaway.

This trip is rated Moderate (3) as climbing is a full body workout and physically very demanding, however, any time you are very tired or simply want to rest you can opt instead to assist other climbers or to sit and relax for a period.  You will never be forced to climb anything you don’t want to climb.  While we are at the climbing areas that we’ll use on this course, you’ll have the opportunity to try numerous routes of varying difficulty.  To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

Temperatures at the climbing areas can range from the teens to the mid-40s during the day. New Hampshire’s winter weather can vary greatly, as with any mountainous area, and very cold conditions are a necessity for quality ice climbing. Trip members should arrive prepared for all possibilities by following the gear recommendations below.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

Weather

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• We will provide double plastic climbing boots. The rigid design of these specialized boots is a necessity for successful climbing on technical ice.
• We recommend thin liner socks under your regular, thicker hiking socks. The liner sock should be made of a non-absorbent wicking material, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• COTTON KILLS! Once cotton clothing becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax. Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer garments should fit easily over your layers without binding or bunching up.
• To protect your face and neck while climbing, you will want to climb with a combination neck gaiter and face mask or with a balaclava. If you are very concerned about wind/cold, you may wish to bring all of these items.