Adventures in Scotland: Day 5 - Ice Factor

Indoor climbing has always had several advantages over outdoors, especially when it comes to ice. Firstly, the condition of the ice is always guaranteed - you never have to bank on good weather for safe climbing. Secondly, they are easy to get to - the walk in is only ever a few feet from the car, rather than a two hour uphill slog. And lastly, you can source yourself a lovely hot chocolate to warm up when you take a break.

With that in mind, we decided that if we were going to get some actual winter climbing in on this trip, we should head over to the Ice Factor National Ice Climbing Center in Kinlochleven for a try on their indoor ice climbing walls. The walls are graded from Scottish winter III to VII, so everything is technically beyond what I've climbed so far, but in some ways pure ice is easier than mixed climbing - you can properly sink the axes, not hold the points on narrow, iffy rock holds!

We had a bloody early start this morning - because of my lack of bolt-tightening abilities we had to make a trip in the dark to Jewsons to source some temporary replacements for the last couple of days of our trip. Not suprised to say, Charlie wasn't hugely impressed and I was left with death-glares until breakfast. I've ordered an official DMM replacement set, but I need something to keep me going, so Jewsons it was.

Anyway, the Ice Factor is bloody good fun - there are both rock climbing areas and an ice room, which we had all to ourselves for the few hours we were there for the measly sum of £25 each. We kicked off with some easier stuff, then steadily moved harder and harder - the routes didn't seem to be graded as we were used to, but I reckon that I completed at least one Scottish IV and Charlie a V or VI. They were made easier by the fact they were all top-roped, but still. It's something. We made some good shapes and had a lot of fun as we did so.

Climbing on pure ice was fun, and required a different kind of thinking - axe placements aren't necessarily as bombproof as you'd like, as I found out to my cost when my adze blew out and smacked me in the nose, leaving me dazed and smarting, and Charlie cracking up with laughter as he lowered me down. It's a little bit more think-y than mixed climbing, but it some ways it's nicer than rock climbing because every foothold is solid and every handhold is a massive jug, so it's easier to hold on. It does pump your forearms quite quickly though, with some of the longer routes giving you a bit of numbness.

We had a bit of fun with the cameras taking some video, so I should be able to put up some interesting stuff when I get back and my internet connection is a little faster. It's not movie-quality stuff but it's still fun to look at.

Anyway, today was a bit of fun and a confidence boost for tomorrow - it's our last day in Scotland and we're looking to go out with a bit of a bang and summit Ben Nevis via an actual north face route. We need to complete something whilst we're here...