Ice Climbing

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of ice screws in ice climbing?

Accepted Answer

To create secure anchor points in the ice

Answer

To measure the thickness of ice formations

Answer

To melt handholds in frozen waterfalls

Answer

To chip away loose ice before climbing

Question 2

Which technique describes the proper ice axe placement for steep ice climbing?

Accepted Answer

High placement with a sharp, confident swing

Answer

Gentle tapping to avoid ice fractures

Answer

Low placement near your waist level

Answer

Sideways chopping to create ledges

Question 3

What ice condition is generally considered most dangerous for climbing?

Accepted Answer

Thin ice over running water

Answer

Thick blue ice in freezing temperatures

Answer

White aerated ice from frozen spray

Answer

Chandelier ice formations on overhangs

Question 4

What type of crampon points are specifically designed for ice climbing?

Accepted Answer

Front-pointing crampons with aggressive vertical spikes

Answer

Horizontal micro-spikes for maximum surface contact

Answer

Curved crampons that wrap around the ice formation

Answer

Flexible rubber spikes that bend with foot movement

Question 5

Which climbing grade system is most commonly used for rating ice climbing routes?

Accepted Answer

WI (Water Ice) scale from WI1 to WI7+

Answer

YDS (Yosemite Decimal System) 5.1 to 5.15

Answer

V-scale bouldering grades V0 to V17

Answer

Alpine grades from F to ED4

Question 6

What is the recommended angle for swinging an ice tool into vertical ice?

Accepted Answer

About 70-80 degrees to the ice surface

Answer

Perfectly perpendicular at 90 degrees

Answer

At a shallow 30-45 degree angle

Answer

Completely parallel to maximize surface area

Question 7

Which weather condition typically creates the most stable and climbable ice formations?

Accepted Answer

Consistent sub-freezing temperatures with minimal wind

Answer

Rapid freeze-thaw cycles every few hours

Answer

Strong winds with temperatures near freezing

Answer

Warm sunny days followed by sudden arctic blasts

Question 8

What is 'bridging' in the context of ice climbing technique?

Accepted Answer

Spreading your feet wide to distribute weight across weak ice

Answer

Creating an ice bridge between two separate formations

Answer

Using your ice tools to span across a crevasse

Answer

Connecting two climbing ropes for extra security

Question 9

Which type of ice formation is created when flowing water freezes while moving?

Accepted Answer

Water ice (WI)

Answer

Alpine ice formed from compressed snow

Answer

Mixed ice requiring both rock and ice techniques

Answer

Chandelier ice that dangles like decorative crystals

Question 10

What advanced technique involves removing an ice tool placement without using your hands?

Accepted Answer

Heel hooking the tool handle to lever it out

Answer

Using crampon spikes to pry the tool loose

Answer

Swinging the second tool to knock the first one free

Answer

Performing a dynamic jump to jar the tool loose