How to Ice Climb! is the most thorough instructional ice climbing book to date. Ice climbing continues to grow more popular every year. This nuts-and-bolts guide serves as an introduction to ice climbing for beginners and helps intermediate climbers hone their knowledge of the sport. All the fundamentals, from ethics to getting up the climb, are here. Advances in equipment and technique have helped make the sport accessible to a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts. Accomplished ice climber and author Tim Banfield provides all the information beginners need to get into ice climbing, as well as many valuable tips that the experts will appreciate too. Starting with an overview of the history of ice climbing, Banfield moves on to cover clothing, gear, approach strategies, avalanche safety, snow climbing, frontpointing, overhanging ice, mixed climbing, hazards....all facets of ice climbing are thoroughly examined and explained by one of the sport's most legendary participants. Full color photos complement the text to make How to Ice Climb! the most complete resource available. Inside you'll find all the information you need on: ·Footwork and handhold positions ·Snow climbing and frontpointing ·Approach strategies and avalanche safety ·Equipment, including ropes, anchors, and belay devices ·Sport climbing and traditional climbing ·Training, including bouldering and climbing gyms