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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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Kyrgyzstan Faces 2022

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Petzl Crampon Compatability

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UK Classic Rock Summer Challenge

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Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 2

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BD Zpole

Walking Poles

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Winter Climbing Grades

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Summer Climbing Grade Comparisons

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Petzl summit evo

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

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Duvet Jacket

My Winter Clothing and Gloves

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Classic Alpine Ascents

Arc'teryx Webinar with Adrian Nelhams

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Planning for the winter

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

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Oberland Ski 2 PS2

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

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Dave on sighting

What's in my backpack - Sport Climbing

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What's in My Backpack - Freeride

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Climbing Motivation

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IFMGA Mountain Guides

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The Art of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread!

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ISM Autumn Newsletter 2019

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What to take Icefall climbing

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Using 'Avalanche Probes' and advice for buying

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Booking Thankyou

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Ice Screws and Accessories

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Alpine Icefall Climbing

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Edward (2017)

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Steve

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BT

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Why We Love British Trad Climbing!

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Off-Piste Ski Technique: Five Key Focus Points

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ISM Summer Alpine Conditions

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Donald Connolly

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Maite Iriarte

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Michael Firth

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Clare

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Lake Louise

How to climb waterfall ice

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Arc'teryx Psiphon AR Pant review

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The Mittellegi Integral

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A clients view on 'being guided'

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Canadian Rockies First Ascent by Adrian Nelhams

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Climbing on Gran Canaria by Pat Littlejohn

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ISM Guide climbs hard mixed route in the Lakes

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Kuilu & Son Kul Expedition 2009

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Adventures in Alaska by Adrian Nelhams

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Tien Shan Expedition 2007 by Pat Littlejohn

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Ethiopia: More Climbs and Finds by Pat Littlejohn

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 05 by Pat Littlejohn

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Sandstone Towers in Ethiopia by Pat Littlejohn

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Heaven and Ice

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Courses

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Summits & Skills 1

Summits & Skills 4000m (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

May - Sep 2026
4:1 Ratio
£1,895
Monte Rosa Traverse 2

Monte Rosa 4000ers

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1,995
ISM-UK-rock-2-1400x300

Lake District Rock Climbing

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Rock Improvers 1

Rock Climbing Improvers

Level 2: Instructional Courses

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Classic Rock 1

Classic Rock - Lake District

Level 2: Guided Courses

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Ski Touring Advice

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Private Guiding Icefalls 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Classic Icefalls 2026

Level 2: Guided Courses

Mar 2026
£2,495
Summer Alpine 19

Vital Information

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Icefall Equipment

Icefall Climbing Equipment

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Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Avalanche Awareness Equipment

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Chamonix with Steve Martin 016

Things to do in Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mont Blanc

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Privacy Policy

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Intro Off Piste 1

Passport & Visas

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About ISM

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Adrian Nelhams

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Paolo Intropido

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Christian Türk

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ISM Historical

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Contact ISM

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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 'Alpen Adapt' Crampons

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William Summits and Skills 4000m 2021

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William 2021

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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 3

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Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 1

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Mountaineering boots

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Boots

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TAA

Clothing for summer alpine mountaineering

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Avalanche Categories

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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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Packing Your Waterproofs

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My Climbing Harnesses & Helmet

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Tom placing gear leading 2

My Trad Climbing Rack

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Sarken crampon

A look at some of the different types of crampons available

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Petzl Rope

My Climbing Ropes

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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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Ice Screw Video

Ice Screws

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Christmas Newsletter 2020

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Helping you plan your Alpine Goals

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Canadian Ice Climbing

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Summer Newsletter 2020

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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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Talkeetna Air Taxi

Adrian Nelhams flies into the Kitchatna Spires, Alaska

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What's in my backpack - Classic Alpinism

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What's in my backpack - Trad Climbing

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What's in my backpack - Single Day Ski Tour

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What's in my backpack - Icefall Climbing

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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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New Routes in the Canadian Rockies

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Which Boots do I need?

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Christmas Newsletter 2019

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Some thoughts on rope choice linked into decision making

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Kyrgyzstan 16

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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Icefall Climbing This Winter

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ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2019 – The Pamir Mountains

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Transceiver Group Check

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Snow Shovels - advice and recommendations

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Expedition Climbing and Planning a Trip

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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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Summer Newsletter 2018

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Waterfall Ice Safety Leaflet

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Wild Horses

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Crampons

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Ice Axes

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James (2017)

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David (2017)

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Rachel (2017)

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R W (2017)

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Steve (2017)

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KL (2017)

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Tim

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EP

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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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ISM Kyrgyzstan (Pamirs) Virgin Summits Expedition 2016

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Boots Advice

What is a B1 or B2 boot?

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Ski Touring Equipment Advice

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Winter Ice Climbing Kit – Get ready for the Ice!

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Kalymnos

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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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BMG Guides Summer Rock 1

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Lachlan MacGregor

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David Hughes

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Chris Ward

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Donald Connolly

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Jo Clark

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Andy Challenor

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Ian Twizell

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Leigh Ritchie

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ISM West Kokshal-Too Expedition

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Ade Ice Header PS

How to climb waterfall ice - part 2

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Taking Coils

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Teaching leading

Building an ice screw belay

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The Dolomites Ski Safari

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Kyrgyzstan 2014

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Homepage

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Fond memories of Pete Boardman

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The Brunton Hydrogen Reactor

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The Cordillera Blanca - Peru

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Kyrgyzstan - Adventure Travel Magazine Article

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Ice Article - Professional Mountaineer Magazine

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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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Courses for Challenge and Enjoyment

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Kyrgyzstan 2010 – ISM At Bashi Expeditions

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ISM Instructional Courses by Pat Littlejohn

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Expedition Gear for Kyrgyzstan by Steve Taylor

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My Kyrgyzstan Trip by Adrian Nelhams

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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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Winter report from Terry & Graham

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Award for Services to Mountaineering

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Alpine Weather News - by Terry Ralphs

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

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

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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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Ice Climbing Kit Check by Adrian Nelhams

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Sun Rock on Sardinia by Adrian Nelhams

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ISM Central Borkoldoy Expedition - September 2005

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Winter first ascents in Canada by Adrian Nelhams

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The Client’s Eye on the Guide Guy!

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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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Mountain Info - High magazine, August 2000

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ISM-Alpine-4-1400x300

Summer Alpine Mountaineering

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Private Guiding 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Student Week 1

Student Alpine Week (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jul - Aug 2026
6:1 Ratio
£1395
Climbing Grunegghorn 2

Classic AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jun - Aug 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Technical Alpine Rock 1

Alpine Rock

Level 3: Guided Courses

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

Technical Alpine Ascents

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jun - Aug 2026
2:1 Ratio
£2495
Matterhorn Ascent 1

Matterhorn Ascent

Level 3: Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

1:1 Ratio
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Custom Courses 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Try Climbing Outdoors 1

Try Climbing Outdoors

Level 1: Instructional Courses

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Indoor to Outdoor 1

Indoor Wall to Outdoor Climbing

Level 1: Instructional Courses

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Coaching lead Climbing 1

Coaching Lead Climbing

Level 3: Instructional Courses

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Alpine Preparation 1

Alpine Preparation

Level 1: 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
Sardinia Trekking 1

Sardinia Trekking

Guided Courses

Sep - Oct 2025
6:1 Ratio
£1495
Off Piste Ski Equipment

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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ISM-Ice-1-1400x300

Ice Climbing

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Icefall climbing 31

Icefall Climbing Skills (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jan - Feb 2026
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Classic Alpine Icefalls

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jan - Feb 2026
2:1 Ratio
£2395
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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Kyrgyzstan 2

Educational Videos

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Equipment 1

Equipment Information

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Summer Alpine Equipment

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Equipment

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Ski Touring Equipment

Ski Touring Equipment

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Off Piste Ski Equipment

Off-Piste Ski 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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Classic 4000m 1

Prices

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Gran Paradiso 1

Insurance Information

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Plan B hotel 1

Getting to Le Fayet, St Gervais Mont Blanc

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Classic Alpine Ascents 1

Payment Information

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Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Booking Conditions

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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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ISM-Alpine-4-1400x300

News, Articles and Trip Reports

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Why Choose ISM?

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The ISM Team

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Steve Monks

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Terry Ralphs

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Tommaso Dusi

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Carlo Cosi

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Enrico Mosetti

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Matt Stygall

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Christian Edelstam

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Mark Charlton

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ISM-Exped-1400x300

Our Partners

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Reviews

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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.

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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

​Hi Eira! It is Maite from Spain again! Just a message to tell you that I spent a wonderful week and that both guides (Paolo and Christian) were superb.

Maite Iriarte

"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

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Team Spotlight

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Paolo Intropido

IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide

Born in NW Italy in a region surrounded by mountains, Paolo started to ski and trek as a kid, always wanting to explore 'beyond the next hill'.

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Knowledge Base

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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