Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue

An expert instructional how-to guide featuring essential skills and techniques for travel across steep snow and glaciers

• For intermediate and advanced climbers
• The only comprehensive guide on glacier climbing and crevasse rescue
• Recommended by AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association)

Through clear text and detailed step-by-step photos, IFMGA certified guide Ian Nicholson introduces the hazards climbers face and describes everything they need to know when scaling snow-covered mountains, including foundational ropework, the tools of the trade (ice axes, crampons, harnesses, snow pickets, and so on), basics of footwork, essential techniques for moving on snow and ice, trip planning and navigation, rigging ropes, building anchors, belaying, rappelling, self-rescue tips and techniques, and more. Beyond the fundamentals, Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue dives deep into methods for rescuing a climber who has fallen into a crevasse, how skiers and snowboarders can approach such a scenario, and the hazards related to expeditions. Sidebars by expert contributors highlight key takeaways from real-life stories about valuable, life-changing lessons they’ve learned.

Ian Nicholson is an IFMGA-certified mountain guide and has been guiding around the world for nearly two decades. Passionate about self-rescue, Nicholson has earned two Denali Pro Pin Awards for helping to save other climbers and works on the National Instructor Team for both the AMGA and AIARE. He lives in Seattle.