OUTDOORSmagic member Richard Nicholls and wife checked out the world's largest indoor ice-climbing wall, the Ice Factor, and learned to keep their weight firmly on their feet...
With the currently fickle nature of Scottish winter conditions,
the massive indoor ice wall at Kinlochleven's Ice Factor is
looking increasingly attractive. It might be warm and wet outside,
but inside it's well below zero, and you can experience most of the
joys of Scottish winter climbing without being pelted by spindrift
for five hours...
OUTDOORSmagic member Richard Nicholls checked out the ice.
Here's what he made of it all. Pics courtesy of Entreprises and the
Ice Factor.
Don't Use Your Arms...
In
use this wall is so much fun, it's both challenging and satisfying to
use and, I've got to say it again, so much fun. The layout of the
interior of the Ice area is well thought out with several different
routes where climbers can climb very close together, maximising the
amount of climbers at any one time, but without getting in each
others way. The different graded routes vary from dead easy, my wife
had a go and got to the top, right up to Popeye level - you need arms
like Popeye to get up 'em.
"Not that you should use your arms though, technique is the key"
said our instructor, Kenny. I'd paid to have a Private Indoor Ice
session for my wife and I, the cost for three hours personal
instruction was £80.00. Good value when you work out that it's
about £13.00 per hour for private instruction per person with
all the required equipment included for the session.
I'd brought some of my own gear and Kenny made sure it was
compatible with The Ice Factor's crampons. They supply Camp 12
-pointers that fitted my Scarpa Cumbre boot a treat. I'm not sure of
the ice axes used there but they were of an acceptable quality and
felt nicely balanced in the hand, the picks were nice and sharp.
Helmets On
We kitted up and headed on into the room. once in the hired helmet
was mandatory and Kenny said that should we wish to take it off we
would need to leave the room. Once I planted my axe I saw why that
rule was in place. To start the instruction period Kenny made sure we
were happy using crampons and taught a few techniques, he then had us
climb the smaller wall with no axes - Couldn't be done was my first
thought but with the expert advice of Kenny both my wife and I made
it as high as we needed to go to get the point that good leg
technique is the key (okay I'll stop repeating myself soon).
Once the ice axes came out the real fun started. Kenny gave a few
very good tips and started us climbing. He supervised very closely
while my wife and I took it in turns to belay or climb and was always
ready should something unexpected happen, nothing did. The safety
features in the Ice Factor leave nothing to chance.
More
tips and expert advice followed as we got more confident and after a
while my tired wife asked if I would climb for the rest of the
session while she belayed me. I didn't need asking twice and hit a
couple of the large walls, "How about this one?" Kenny suggested. I
looked over to see the wall he was indicating too, it was high - 18m
and about half way up the ice got very thin and overhanging. I
couldn't believe that I made it to the top but I managed, again, the
advice and encouragement coming from below helped greatly and I felt
very reassured that when I reached the top I was being very well
belayed by my wife assisted by the ever watchful Kenny.
Feel The Burn
The next wall I tried was, or seemed, harder. But by now my arms
and hands were beginning to feel the burn and I surrendered to the
pain and gave up. Three hours had flown by and I was so elated that
we'd done this, it was a long way to travel but boy was it worth the
journey.
I suppose the 100 dollar question is, "Would I use it again?" The
answer is a resounding, "Yes" before I left the place was was laying
plans to buy my own gear and head up for more sessions. As I have
said, it's a very long way to travel for indoor ice but it's the only
one I am aware of in the UK. I have plans to head up there just to
use this facility, this time with friends.
The Ice Factor is at the moment a unique place full of action and
fun, you'll leave it very tired and wholly satisfied with your
efforts. And, like me, I guess you'll be planning your return before
you reach the exit doors.
A big thanks goes out to Kenny and he rest of the crew at the Ice
Factor for a wonderful introduction to the world of Ice Climbing.
