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Winter Climbing

    Course
    Develop Skills
    Oppdal Ice Climbing Week

    Oppdal Ice Climbing Week

    • Price
      £900.00
    • Ratio
      1 : 2
    • Duration
      8 Days
    • Location
      Oppdal, Norway

    A week of ice climbing in the Oppdal and Sunndal valleys in Norway, to the South of Trondheim. We started running trips here in 2025Tour Details

    Details & Booking

    Course
    Develop Skills
    Rjukan Ice Climbing Week

    Rjukan Ice Climbing Week

    • Price
      £900.00
    • Ratio
      1 : 2
    • Duration
      8 Days
    • Location
      Rjukan, Norway

    An amazing week of ice climbing in Rjukan, Norway. Whether you’re just starting winter climbing, or want expert coaching in the skills to lead climbs yourself, Rjukan is one of the most reliable areas in Europe for ice. Join us for an amazing trip.

    Details & Booking

    Course
    Develop Skills
    Lillehammer Ice Climbing Week

    Lillehammer Ice Climbing Week

    • Price
      £900.00
    • Ratio
      1 : 2
    • Duration
      8 Days
    • Location
      Lillehammer, Norway

    Join us for an adventurous ice climbing trip to Lillehammer in Norway. Whether you’re after guided adventures or looking to develop the skills to lead this area has a great range of venues away from some of the more popular crowded spots.

    Details & Booking

    Course
    Bespoke
    Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport

    Can't find what you're after?
    Book a Private Course

    • From
      ยฃ180.00
    • Ratio
      Low
    • Dates
      To Suit
    • Locations
      Wales, Scotland & Beyond

    Do you have a specific adventure in mind or particular set of skills you want to learn? Or perhaps our established course dates don't work for you.

    Our instructors can be booked privately to deliver a bespoke course centered around your needs and on dates to suit. Benefit from having an instructor all to yourself to focus on exactly what you need to progress.

    Find out about Private Bookings

Courses

  • Develop Skills
    • Hill Walking
    • Scrambling
    • Rock Climbing
    • Winter Climbing
  • Have Adventures
  • Get Qualified
    • Climbing Wall Instructor
    • Rock Climbing Instructor
    • Mountain Leader
  • Private Bookings

Approved

Mountain Training are an approved Mountain Training and Mountain Training Skills Courses Provider

Professional

Assocstion of Mountaineering Instructors and Mountain Training Association Logos

Latest Blog Posts

  • Bristly Ridge East Face Topo
    8 January 2026
  • Arc’teryx Alpha SL 30
    Backpack: First Look

    18 May 2025
  • The First Welsh Rock Climbing Guide?
    13 March 2025
  • Climbing Qualifications Syllabus Updates
    31 October 2024
  • What is a Quality Mountain Day?
    2 March 2024

Instagram

Wild camp with Merlin, soaking up the sunset scene Wild camp with Merlin, soaking up the sunset scenes while I'm working on a Mountain Leader Assessment in Eryri.

Points for who can identify the blurry peaks in the background.

@garlandmountaineering
International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_ International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_dancecompany at @theatrclwyd in Mold.

Performance this Sunday for the theatre's birthday open day. Lots on, from building tours, cinema tasters and cardboard cities, to backstage experiences, instrument petting zoos and live music on stage.
Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skil Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skills course with 3 psyched climbers here in beautiful North Wales.

We do a lot of matchmaking here at Mountain Independence to make these skills courses happen for individuals. If you're keen to learn to lead sport or trad I have a couple of folk looking to find dates for a trad course in the near future. 

We're passionate about climbing and developing folk's confidence to have their own adventures. Check out Dan's review of the course here;

"Fantastic introduction into lead trad climbing. There's a lot to cover but the pace of the course was perfect and I came away feeling confident I could get stuck into more trad climbing.
Stu covered a broad range of skills, theory, and etiquette, was very patient with questions and prior skills, and gave us a really good balance of practical experiences.

I absolutely recommend anyone curious about trying out lead trad give the course a go!"
Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the long (for Rjukan!) walk in. Thanks to @youroutdoor for the recommendation; it's in good condition and we enjoyed taking a steep groove a little left of the easiest line which was ace.

Rest day today, the guys have been enjoying the various flavours of warmth on offer in @rjukanbadet and the sights of the town. 

If the accessible, reliable and quality ice climbing on offer in Norway is something you'd like to experience, either as a guided trip or developing your personal skills, then get in touch. We can supply all the technical kit for folk just getting started.
Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today. I've been out in Norway the last few weeks in Hemsedal and Rjukan with clients. Ben and Damo had a couple of skills days between Krokan and Ozzimosis and we're gearing up for a multipitch adventure tomorrow. 

I've had a gap open in the diary for ice climbing guiding/instruction in Norway (Rjukan/Lillehammer/Hemsedal) between the 9th and 12th February (changeover travel days into Oslo Gardemoen either side on the 8th and 13th February) for anyone who might be able to capitalise on a last-minute ice trip. Get in touch for more info.
A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making the most of the last day of the winter conditions in Eryri last week. Loads of folk out enjoying the climbing on the East Face and Bristly Ridge itself. 

Defaid Gwyn ** 105m, 4 pitches ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘
East Face of Bristly Ridge | Y Grib Bigog

Takes the left rib that merges with Tower Buttress.

1. V, 6. 22m Start just right of the rib, up a shallow groove steepening at a shield of rock with cracks either side. Arrange gear for the crux, up the right crack, to a niche and pull up right to a ledge.

2. IV, 4. 35m Step back left, then right to surmount a short crack and drop down to a small col. Continue up the ridge line with interest to a large ledge.

3. III. 30m. Skirt left and back up right to join Tower Buttress on broken ground as far as a bay. Belay in a left facing corner with a steep, chockstone topped crack.

4. V, 6. 18m Mantle the chockstone to a ledge. Pull up left into the stepped groove with plentiful gear afforded by the right crack, pulling out left on turf. Finish easily up to the crest of Bristly.

Tom Butel and Stu Lade 10/Jan/2025.

๐Ÿ“ธ Thanks to @eddysmountaincompany for the crag shot.

Discount

stu@MountainIndependence.co.uk
07866 486 486
Mountain Independence
36 High Street
Llanberis
Snowdonia
LL55 4EU
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