Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

Going ice climbing for the first time? Congratulations! You're going to have a blast. Unless you don't dress properly and go with people who doesn't really know what they're doing, in which case you could end up frostbitten or dead. I know I'm being a little melodramatic, but when you get right down to it, it's true.

Here are five rules to ensure that you have a safe and super sweet experience.

1. Make sure your companions know what they're doing. I can't stress this enough. Have they had formal training in setting topropes, through a university's outdoor rec department or, ideally, the AMGA? (That's the American Mountain Guides Association.) How long have they been ice climbing? Did they learn from an expert? What climbs have they completed? 

Don't hesitate to ask your friends about their experience. What's worse - feeling awkward asking your friend for his climbing credentials, or breaking your neck because the crappy anchor he set blew?

2. Dress wisely. No cotton. Wear more than you think you need - you can always take it off. Layer, layer, layer. Bring a pair of ultrawarm mittens to warm your hands up in. Bonus points if they're articulated mittens with grippy palms that you can wear while belaying. If you have a big poufy down jacket that looks like a sleeping bag, wear it! Stash a few candy bars and nontoxic chemical handwarmers in the pockets.

3. Use the right gear. If this is your first time, you'll probably be using borrowed gear, so I know there's only so much you can do. But if at all possible, get a great fit for your boots. Make sure there's room for thick socks and a layer of air. Do NOT wear tight boots. Also, cinch your crampons good and tight.

4. WEAR A HELMET. It pains me to even have to write this, but if I had a dollar for every bare-headed climber I've seen, I would be at least $20 richer than I am now.

What's that you say? "But Shelby, I don't want to look dorky." Bite me. Dorky is better than dead.

5. Smile! Ice climbing is awesome. This is me leading my first ice climb, Psycho Icycho, a WI2 (which means "really easy") in Orient Bay, Ontario. Yes, I am clearly terrified.

• ice
• climbing
• fun
• stuff
• how
• to
• minnesota