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International School of Mountaineering
Summer Alpine 2

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There’s No Word for Vegetarian!

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Kyrgyzstan Faces 2022

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Petzl 'Alpen Adapt' Crampons

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William 2021

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Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 3

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Mountaineering boots

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Boots

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Avalanche Categories

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Arc teryx alpha fl

Packing Your Waterproofs

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Tom placing gear leading 2

My Trad Climbing Rack

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Petzl Rope

My Climbing Ropes

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Ice Screw Video

Ice Screws

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Helping you plan your Alpine Goals

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Summer Newsletter 2020

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Talkeetna Air Taxi

Adrian Nelhams flies into the Kitchatna Spires, Alaska

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What's in my backpack - Trad Climbing

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What's in my backpack - Icefall Climbing

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New Routes in the Canadian Rockies

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Christmas Newsletter 2019

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Kyrgyzstan 16

The Art Of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread

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Icefall Climbing This Winter

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Transceiver Group Check

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Expedition Climbing and Planning a Trip

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Summer Newsletter 2018

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Wild Horses

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Ice Axes

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R W (2017)

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KL (2017)

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EP

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ISM Kyrgyzstan (Pamirs) Virgin Summits Expedition 2016

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Ski Touring Equipment Advice

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Kalymnos

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BMG Guides Summer Rock 1

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David Hughes

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Donald Connolly

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Leigh Ritchie

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Ade Ice Header PS

How to climb waterfall ice - part 2

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Teaching leading

Building an ice screw belay

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Fond memories of Pete Boardman

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The Cordillera Blanca - Peru

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Ice Article - Professional Mountaineer Magazine

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Courses for Challenge and Enjoyment

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ISM Instructional Courses by Pat Littlejohn

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My Kyrgyzstan Trip by Adrian Nelhams

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Winter report from Terry & Graham

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Alpine Weather News - by Terry Ralphs

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Winter Training - Is it the Real Deal? By Adrian Nelhams

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Ice Climbing Kit Check by Adrian Nelhams

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ISM Central Borkoldoy Expedition - September 2005

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The Client’s Eye on the Guide Guy!

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Mountain Info - High magazine, August 2000

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Private Guiding 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Level 2 Summer Mountaineering Alps 1

Classic AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jun - Aug 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1,995
Custom Courses 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Indoor to Outdoor 1

Indoor Wall to Outdoor Climbing

Level 1: Instructional Courses

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Alpine Preparation 1

Alpine Preparation

Level 1: Guided Courses

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Sardinia Trekking 1

Sardinia Trekking

Guided Courses

Sep - Oct 2025
6:1 Ratio
£1495
ISM-Ice-1-1400x300

Ice Climbing

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Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Classic Alpine Icefalls

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jan - Feb 2026
2:1 Ratio
£2,395
Kyrgyzstan 2

Educational Videos

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Summer Alpine Equipment

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Equipment

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Off Piste Ski Equipment

Off-Piste Ski Equipment

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Classic 4000m 1

Prices

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Plan B hotel 1

Getting to Le Fayet, St Gervais Mont Blanc

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Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Booking Conditions

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News, Articles and Trip Reports

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The ISM Team

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Terry Ralphs

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Matt Stygall

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Mark Charlton

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ISM-Exped-1400x300

Our Partners

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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Getting Into & Developing Your Climbing

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2023 – Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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Booking Order Thankyou

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Kyrgyzstan Faces 2022

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2022 - Fergana Range, Kyrgyzstan

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Petzl Crampon Compatability

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William Summits and Skills 4000m 2021

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UK Classic Rock Summer Challenge

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Packing to stay overnight in an alpine hut

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Prussiking Up A Rope

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Arcteryx alpha fl 45 backpack

Rucksacks for Summer Alpine Mountaineering

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Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 2

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Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 1

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BD Zpole

Walking Poles

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TAA

Clothing for summer alpine mountaineering

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Winter Climbing Grades

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Alpine Grades

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Glacial Travel 2 People Set-Up

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Glacial Travel 3 People Set-Up

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Summer Climbing Grade Comparisons

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My Climbing Harnesses & Helmet

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Petzl summit evo

A look at some of the different types of ice axes available

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Sarken crampon

A look at some of the different types of crampons available

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Duvet Jacket

My Winter Clothing and Gloves

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Boots Advice

My Icefall Climbing Crampons

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My Axes vid image

My Icefall Climbing Ice Axes

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Racking Ice Screws inmage

Racking Ice Screws

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Classic Alpine Ascents

Arc'teryx Webinar with Adrian Nelhams

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Christmas Newsletter 2020

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Planning for the winter

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Canadian Ice Climbing

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How to use slings, to equalise tradition anchors and create a belay

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Teaching1 2

How to build a belay using a rope when traditional climbing

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Abalokov

Making an Abalakov or 'V' Thread ice anchor.

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What's in my backpack - Technical Alpinism

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Oberland Ski 2 PS2

What's in my backpack - Multi-day Ski Touring

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What's in my backpack - Classic Alpinism

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Dave on sighting

What's in my backpack - Sport Climbing

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What's in my backpack - Single Day Ski Tour

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What's in My Backpack - Freeride

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On-sighting - Tips and Techniques

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Red-Pointing - Tips and techniques

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Reflecting on my winter icefall climbing

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Climbing Motivation

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Which Boots do I need?

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IFMGA Mountain Guides

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Some thoughts on rope choice linked into decision making

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The Art of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread!

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Is Your Avalanche Transceiver Working Properly?

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Leash or Leashless?

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Traditional Climbing on a Single Rope

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ISM Autumn Newsletter 2019

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2019 – The Pamir Mountains

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What to take Icefall climbing

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Snow Shovels - advice and recommendations

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Using 'Avalanche Probes' and advice for buying

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Review of the Barryvox S Transceiver.

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ISM Virgin Summits Expedition 2018 Trip Report

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Arc’teryx Procline Lite Ski Boot Review.

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Booking Thankyou

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Waterfall Ice Safety Leaflet

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Ice Screws and Accessories

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Crampons

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Alpine Icefall Climbing

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James (2017)

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David (2017)

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Rachel (2017)

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Edward (2017)

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Steve (2017)

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Steve

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Tim

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BT

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The Wild Side

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ISM Virgin Summits Expedition 2017 Trip Report

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Transceiver and Avalanche Rescue

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Why We Love British Trad Climbing!

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Boots Advice

What is a B1 or B2 boot?

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Off-Piste Ski Technique: Five Key Focus Points

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Winter Ice Climbing Kit – Get ready for the Ice!

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ISM Summer Alpine Conditions

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ISM Kyrgyzstan (Pamirs) Virgin Summits Expedition 2015

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ISM Celebrating 50 years

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Article in 'The Professional Mountaineer' on Heuristic Traps

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Donald Connolly

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Lachlan MacGregor

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Maite Iriarte

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Chris Ward

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Michael Firth

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Jo Clark

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Andy Challenor

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Ian Twizell

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Clare

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ISM West Kokshal-Too Expedition

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Lake Louise

How to climb waterfall ice

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Taking Coils

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Arc'teryx Psiphon AR Pant review

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The Dolomites Ski Safari

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Kyrgyzstan 2014

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Homepage

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The Mittellegi Integral

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The Brunton Hydrogen Reactor

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A clients view on 'being guided'

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Kyrgyzstan - Adventure Travel Magazine Article

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Canadian Rockies First Ascent by Adrian Nelhams

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Spring Newsletter

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Pat Littlejohn Interview

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2012 Expedition Report – Tien Shan

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Climbing on Gran Canaria by Pat Littlejohn

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Kyrgyzstan 2010 – ISM At Bashi Expeditions

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ISM Guide climbs hard mixed route in the Lakes

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Expedition Gear for Kyrgyzstan by Steve Taylor

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Kuilu & Son Kul Expedition 2009

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Latest News from Adrian

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Bulletin from Leysin - Hope, Noise and Great Ice!

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ISM West Kokshal-Too Expedition, 2008

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Adventures in Alaska by Adrian Nelhams

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Award for Services to Mountaineering

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Tien Shan Expedition 2007 by Pat Littlejohn

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Dolomites in May - far from the crowds, by Adrian Nelhams

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Ethiopia: More Climbs and Finds by Pat Littlejohn

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2006 Ice-Climbing round-up, by Adrian Nelhams

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Borkoldoy Report, CLIMB Magazine 2006

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The Urner Alps - alpine rock paradise, by Terry Ralphs

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 05 by Pat Littlejohn

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Sun Rock on Sardinia by Adrian Nelhams

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Sandstone Towers in Ethiopia by Pat Littlejohn

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Winter first ascents in Canada by Adrian Nelhams

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Heaven and Ice

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ISM Central Borkoldoy Expedition - September 2004

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ISM - Virgin Peaks of the Tien Shan - 2003

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ISM West Kokshaal-too Expedition, 2002

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Courses

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ISM-Alpine-4-1400x300

Summer Alpine Mountaineering

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Intro Summer Mountaineering Alps 1

Summits & Skills 4000m (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

May - Sep 2026
4:1 Ratio
£1895
Student Alpine Mountaineering Alps 1

Student Alpine Week (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jul - Aug 2026
6:1 Ratio
£1395
Monte Rosa Mountaineering 4000m Peaks Traverse 2

Monte Rosa 4000ers

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Alpine Rock Climbing Alps 1

Alpine Rock

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jul - Aug 2026
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Technical Alpine Climbing Alps 1

Technical Alpine Ascents

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jun - Aug 2026
2:1 Ratio
£2495
Climbing Matterhorn Alps 1

Matterhorn Ascent

Level 3: Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

1:1 Ratio
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ISM-UK-rock-2-1400x300

Lake District Rock Climbing

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Try Climbing Outdoors 1

Try Climbing Outdoors

Level 1: Instructional Courses

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Rock Improvers 1

Rock Climbing Improvers

Level 2: Instructional Courses

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Coaching lead Climbing 1

Coaching Lead Climbing

Level 3: Instructional Courses

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Classic Rock 1

Classic Rock - Lake District

Level 2: Guided Courses

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Scrambling Skills 1

Scrambling Skills

Level 1: Instructional Courses

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ISM-Exped-2-1400x300

Expeditions & Treks

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20220906 082540

2026 Virgin Peaks Expedition - Kyrgyzstan

Guided Courses

Aug - Sep 2026
£3595
Ski Touring Advice

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Off Piste Ski Equipment

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Private Guiding Icefalls 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Icefall climbing 31

Icefall Climbing Skills (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jan - Feb 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Classic Icefalls 2026

Level 2: Guided Courses

Mar 2026
£2495
Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Technical Icefalls 2026

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Mar 2026
£2495
Custom Weeks Icefalls 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Knowledge Base

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Summer Alpine 19

Vital Information

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Equipment 1

Equipment Information

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Icefall Equipment

Icefall Climbing Equipment

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Ski Touring Equipment

Ski Touring Equipment

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Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Avalanche Awareness Equipment

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Ski Touring Advice

Ski Touring Equipment Advice

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Boots Advice

Boots & Crampons

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Kyrgyzstan Equipment

Kyrgyzstan Equipment

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Chamonix with Steve Martin 016

Things to do in Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mont Blanc

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Gran Paradiso 1

Insurance Information

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Privacy Policy

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Classic Alpine Ascents 1

Payment Information

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Intro Off Piste 1

Passport & Visas

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Classic Dolomites Ice 1

Canadian Icefalls Information

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20220906 082540

Virgin Peaks Expedition 2026 Information

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Sardinia Trekking 1

Sardinia Trek information

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About ISM

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Why Choose ISM?

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Adrian Nelhams

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Steve Monks

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Paolo Intropido

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Tommaso Dusi

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Carlo Cosi

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Enrico Mosetti

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Christian Türk

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Christian Edelstam

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Dave Heaton

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ISM Historical

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Reviews

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Contact ISM

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Not sure which course to pick?

Are you wondering which course is right for you? Don't fret, we are on hand to help you choose.

Have something else in mind?

Do you know what you want but don't see it in our usual courses? Call us and we'll see where we can help.

Testimonials For ISM

The classic alpinism course last week led by Swedish Daniel was excellent! The itinerary was really well planned taking into account the less than perfect weather and the abilities and aspirations of the group - we all learned loads.

Chris Ward
Classic AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

"I loved the course and Terry was great. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun and feel confident and secure in my technique".

BT
Summits & Skills 4000m (Instructional Course)

Just a quick word of thanks for the course last week. Our guide Tom was excellent and covered a lot of miles to ensure we got the best conditions and great routes in and was always ready with a word or two of advice when needed - please pass my thanks on to him,

James (2017)
Alpine Rock

All Reviews

Team Spotlight

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Adrian Nelhams

ISM Director and IFMGA British Mountain Guide

As a Director of ISM, Adrian splits his time between guiding, the ISM office, family and climbing for himself. During his 30+ year commitment to the team, Adrian has played a key role in the development of ISM.

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Knowledge Base

There’s No Word for Vegetarian!

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