The Art of Mixed Climbing
Elemental Climbing
Interest in rock and ice climbing has been on the rise since it gained popularity in the 70’s and 80’s. Now, decades later, many travel to glaciers to experience climbing pristine ice walls. And anyone who has climbed, whether it’s their first time or they are an expert, must get acquainted with the elements they are working with.
Climbing Ice and Rock
If climbing on glacier ice is your first experience with ice climbing, congratulations, as this can be a rare and unique experience. And even on glacier ice, you will at times have to traverse rocks and sections of moraine on more advanced adventures. When rock and ice climbing are combined, it is sometimes called mixed climbing.
Mixed climbing does require some different techniques, skills, and sometimes equipment than your average ice or rock climb. Some tools are versatile, while others are more specific to ice or rock. One technique to consider is dry tooling. Dry tooling is a form of climbing used by mixed and ice climbers to develop the strength and technique required to climb long, strenuous routes. (chalkbloc) Dry tooling is the use of ice axes and crampons on rock used specifically for this purpose.
Anywhere you find glaciated and volcanic terrain, you are likely to find some mixed climbing. Some climbers believe this style helps improve their overall climbing skills and hone more nuanced techniques. Climbing on ice and rock, and adjusting to different surfaces, offers a new and more challenging experience than climbing.
A Mixed Climbing Adventure
Mixed climbs can mean lots of ice with a little bit of rock, more rock than ice, and anything in between. There are options, dependent on what you are looking for. Many areas and climbing locations have convergences of glacier ice and rock from nearby mountainsides. Alaska offers a variety of terrain and skill levels to explore.
We highly recommend exploring with a guide if this is something you want to try. Having a guide will provide you with many different layers of support for your adventure. Guides offer years of experience and expertise in finding routes to fit the challenge level you are looking for and meet any goals you might have set. Having someone with on-ice knowledge who can take you to the best spots around will give you more climb time and reduce much of the energy that goes into logistics. And, you have someone to answer any questions you have.
If you want an extra challenge or something more customized towards mixed climbing, please visit the Contact Us page and start planning the ice and mixed climbing trip of your dreams. You can even book a multi-day trip with luxury accommodations.
