The new mega indoors ice and rock climbing 'The Ice Factor' - it
used to be 'Factory', but somewhere along the line they mislaid the
'Y' - is provisionally due to open on 27 December this year and
they're planning the mother of all Hogmanays to celebrate.
The
facility, if you've somehow managed to miss it, is being constructed
in the village of Kinlochleven, just ten minutes from Glencoe - it's
the next glen along - and half an hour from Fort Bill in a disused
aluminium plant. It's also on the course of the West Highland Way, so
frisky backpackers will be able to while away a long evening
front-pointing...
It looks like a fantastic place, with 'the world's biggest,
full-scale commercial ice climbing project', plus the UK's largest
articulated artificial climbing wall, bouldering room, lecture
theatres, drying cabinets, caff and restaurant and a sauna, steam
room and plunge pool. Mmmmm....
The ice wall sounds particularly impressive, ranging in height
from six to 12 metres with the 400 square meters of ice being capable
of accommodating up to 30 climbers at any one time. They're also
promising mixed climbing and frozen turf - surely an indoor first -
with granite blocks set into the ice.
It should be a tad more reliable than Scotland's normal fickle
climbing conditions anyway, just a shame it wasn't open in time for
the current heat wave eh?
Grand Hogmanay Bash
The opening is going to marked by a Hogmany event with a
1,000-person tent provided by sponsors Red Bull and 'a spectacular
event including: Competitions, Lectures, Bands, DJ's and also free
drink!!!!!' Full details will be on the Ice Factor web site as soon
as they're released. And that's just the start of a week of
events.
Employment Opportunities
There are vacancies for a Facility Manager, Retail Manager and
Instructors. See this
page for more details.
For more information about the Ice Factor, see the
web
site. Looks good.
