Conquer the Saab Ice Wall

Where: Ellis Brigham in Covent Garden, London, and the North Face in Manchester
When: Ongoing; times vary by location

Step inside the -12°C Vertical Chill area of Ellis Brigham in London or The North Face in Manchester and you'll suddenly find the Alps in England. Over 100 tonnes of snow and ice packed into a 23-ft (8 metre) concave wall entice novices and expert climbers alike to test their climbing mettle in a safe, controlled environment.

Climbing routes pegged to a range of skill levels give everyone a chance to push their abilities to exhilarating limits, and for experienced mountaineers craving a training challenge, an overhanging ice section raises the stakes. (Minimum age 16.)

Climbing Sessions

- Learn to Ice Climb [£40] lessons with a qualified guide; includes equipment
- Climb & Hire [£30] for experienced climbers; includes equipment and supervision
- Turn Up and Climb [£20] for experienced climbers; includes supervision/belaying, but no equipment

All sessions last one hour, which includes approximately 50 minutes on the wall and 10 minutes for kitting up time.

Equipment & clothing

If your session includes equipment hire, outer clothing, axes, crampons, harnesses, helmets, eye protection and gloves will be provided. You may wish to bring a change of T-shirt and socks to change into afterwards.

If you bring your own equipment, a few rules apply: crampons must be suitable for climbing, not walking; boots must be B3 mountaineering boots; and both axes and crampons should be appropriately sharp and may be refused if they're not. Clothing should be suitable for ice climbing in temperatures of -5°C.

Booking your session

It's best to phone and speak to a member of staff to book your session, but alternatively you can email your nearest Vertical Chill venue with your name, daytime phone number and ice-climbing experience/level to arrange your booking.

Ellis Brigham – Covent Garden, London
0207 395 1010
london@vertical-chill.com

The North Face – Manchester
0161 837 6140
manchester@vertical-chill.com