Ice Climbing Improver Course

This course is designed for people who have either:

• Rock climbing experience - competent at top-roping (belaying and tieing in) either indoors or outside.
• Or, 2-days ice climbing experience (e.g. our Beginners Ice Climbing trip).

If you're more advanced than this (e.g. you lead climbing on rock and have some experience ice climbing), you may want to consider the Advanced Ice Climbing course instead.

It includes accommodation, guides and all technical equipment. It excludes travel, food, appropriate clothing and winter mountaineering boots (these can be rented from the hostel if needed).

Documents

• Passport

• European Health Insurance Card (if appropriate)

• Travel insurance details

• Boarding passes for flights

• Wallet

• Driver’s license & rental car details (if needed)

Clothing

Please make sure all clothing is not cotton – cotton clothing is great for the summer but loses heat very quickly in the winter.

• 4 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)

• Fleece/soft-shell jacket

• ‘Booster layer’ e.g. second fleece

• Waterproof jacket

• Down jacket for warmth, if possible (from e.g. Rab, Alpkit, Mountain Equipment)

• Spare clothes for evenings

• Underwear

• Base-layer trousers (optional)

• Soft-shell trousers or other warm trousers

• Waterproof trousers

• Swimwear for the sauna

• 4 thick wool mountaineering socks

• 2 pairs of waterproof/snowproof gloves or mitts

• Winter mountaineering boots that fit crampons (these can be rented directly from the hostel if not owned. The cost of rental is 250NOK for the whole course.)

Other

• Small rucksack

• Water bottle/thermos

• Sunglasses

• Glasses/contact lenses (if needed)

• Sleeping bag liner for the hostel (you can rent sheets if not owned)

• Bathroom items including towel

• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger

• Lipsil

• Book/mp3 player for flights

Climbing Equipment (optional)

If you own any of the following, you may bring them along as well (otherwise they will be provided free of charge):

• Harness

• Helmet

• Ice axes

• Crampons

• Ice screws

• Ice clippers

• 4 screwgates

• 2 prussik loops

• Belay device

A moderate level of fitness is required. Some rock or ice climbing experience is also needed - this course is a perfect progression from the Beginners trip, but you can also join directly if you have rock climbing experience.

The local supermarket has a broad selection, with equivalent prices to a higher-end supermarket in the UK (e.g. Waitrose).

All specialist equipment is provided. You must bring with you: Appropriate clothing (similar to ski wear) including waterproof trousers and tops. At least 2 pairs of gloves/mitts and winter mountaineering boots (you can also rent these from the hostel). Snow shoes are also provided free of charge if needed for the walk-ins.

If flying, go to Oslo Gardermoen - usually most affordable with Ryan Air/Norwegian Air. Course participants typically rent a car together for the 3h drive to Rjukan. When you sign up, we recommend you also join the Facebook event to arrange this. You can find this on our Facebook page.

Temperatures can range from - 10 to - 25 degrees Celcius. You should come prepared and ensure that you have lots of warm layers.

The courses are based out of Rjukan (3 hours from Oslo), a valley interspersed with over 200 frozen waterfalls. Over the week you will cover the essential skills in a variety of single-pitch and multi-pitch crags (20m-400m), all within a few minutes' walk of the road.

The minimum age for all our courses is 18.

You will stay in the Rjukan Old School Hostel. You can find them on Facebook and book extra nights.

The hostel is a small and friendly hostel with basic dormitory-style accommodation. It has comfortable beds, good cooking facilities and pans, warm showers, a sauna, Wi-Fi and a drying room for gear. Bed linen is included. There is no reception desk – just come inside and ask for the owner Jakob, who is also your head guide.

Yes - please make sure you have travel insurance which includes ice climbing. Popular providers include the BMC and Snowcard.

Absolutely yes - most people book alone. It can feel a bit intimidating, but you will do introductions when you arrive, and you’ll get to know the others in no time!

You will start the course off, with a briefing at the hostel around 8 pm on day 1 of the itinerary. On the final day, you should be finished by 4 pm.

If you arrive during the day, it is likely that everyone will be out skiing or climbing. Feel free to put your feet up and make yourself a coffee before the guides come back. In the evening your guide will introduce you to the rest of the group and start your course briefing.

Yes, no problem - just let us know when you complete your registration form.

Rjukan Old School Hostel, Knut Dahlesvei 31, 3660 Rjukan, Norway 

Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rjukanoldschoolhostel/  

The currency used in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (KR). There is 1 ATM machine in Rjukan, but it’s worth getting money before you arrive.