rock…
Lochaber has some of the best rock climbing in the UK with routes that have stood the test of 5 decades of development. However, the weather (and ubiquitous midge!) can conspire to rob us of that day we've planned for so long.
Over 600m² of state-of-the-art climbing walls will make up the dry climbing compliment of the Ice Factor's adventure experiences.
The Main Arena
In the main arena all walls are 15m high and all are equipped for both lead climbing and top roping. Grades are mainly in the mid and upper range.
The right wall is made with Cristalithe textured wood panels. The wall is mainly vertical with 2 large features, the first a large (10m high) diamond shaped feature and the second an overhanging Freeform prow. The wall is aimed principally at the mid-grade climber.
The main back face is an overhanging Freeform curved resin wall, with swooping curved features and subtle changes of shape and angle. Consistently steep, this wall caters for mid to upper grade climbers.
The central feature, is the UK's largest, steepest and only fully articulated freeform-sculpted resin climbing wall. The lower part is fixed at 20 degrees off vertical leading to the articulated upper wall. This moves at the touch of a button on huge hydraulic rams from vertical to 6m overhanging. This wall has minimal features to ensure routes can be set at the hardest grades. Of course any one route changes grade with each degree that the wall overhangs! At the extreme limits this wall will cater for the best climbers in the UK and it will certainly prepare climbers for the trials and standards of international events or the plethora of routes in the surrounding mountains.
To the left is an overhanging Freeform curved resin wall, with great changes of angle and strong linear features. Climbers will be able to follow committing continuous features such edge or layback systems. Consistently steep, like wall B, this wall also caters for mid to upper grade climbers.
The left wall of the main arena is made with the Cristalithe system. High friction coated wood panels with micro features for edging and smearing. This wall has two overhanging shapes of 1.5m and 0.75m respectively. On top of the smaller shape a stance at 11.5m will allow climbers to practice real climbing situations, such as taking a stance, abseiling, top belaying, rescue practice, gear hand over etc. Wall E caters principally for the mid grade climber.
The Teaching Zone
Glencoe and Ben Nevis have for decades been prime training areas for student mountaineers. Many climbers who first cut their teeth on the Buachaille Etive Mor have gone onto record major assents across the globe. The village of Kinlochleven has for years been home to the Arctic Training School visited by NATO troops and by Mountain Rescue Teams.
That pedigree is maintained to this day with a number of professional mountaineering businesses in the immediate area. The independents are bolstered by the Joint Service Mountain Training Centre in Ballachulish, Plas Y Brenin's satellite unit just outside Kinlochleven, Nevisguides in Fort William and Glenmore Lodge at Aviemore.
The Ice Factor Teaching Zone has been geared up not only to meet the needs of these quality providers, but the off-the-street market and the West Highland Way.
In this zone all walls are 8m high and all are equipped for both lead climbing and top roping. Grades are mainly in the lower and mid grade range, with an emphasis put on teaching and techniques. A series of ledges are included on all walls for practicing these techniques, such as rescues, top belays, multi-pitch climbing etc
The right wall consists of an area of vertical Cristalithe panels with two large macro feature stances at different heights for multi-pitch climbing. The back and left walls are made in fully featured Freeform, containing a huge array of features, such as pockets, ribs, laybacks, cracks and ledges. The walls are mainly off vertical and provide relatively easy climbing on realistic rock like situations. Please note more ledges are included than are shown on the model.