Skip to Main Content
International School of Mountaineering
Summer Alpine 2

Instructional Courses

 Walking along a ridge

Guided Courses

 Summer Alpine 1

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Refine Courses

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

Level :

Call

Kyrgyzstan Faces 2022

Level :

Call

Petzl Crampon Compatability

Level :

Call

UK Classic Rock Summer Challenge

Level :

Call

Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 2

Level :

Call
BD Zpole

Walking Poles

Level :

Call

Winter Climbing Grades

Level :

Call

Summer Climbing Grade Comparisons

Level :

Call
Petzl summit evo

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

Level :

Call
Duvet Jacket

My Winter Clothing and Gloves

Level :

Call
Classic Alpine Ascents

Arc'teryx Webinar with Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Planning for the winter

Level :

Call
14

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

Level :

Call
Oberland Ski 2 PS2

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

Level :

Call
Dave on sighting

What's in my backpack - Sport Climbing

Level :

Call
20200307 1113470

What's in My Backpack - Freeride

Level :

Call

Climbing Motivation

Level :

Call

IFMGA Mountain Guides

Level :

Call

The Art of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread!

Level :

Call

ISM Autumn Newsletter 2019

Level :

Call

What to take Icefall climbing

Level :

Call

Using 'Avalanche Probes' and advice for buying

Level :

Call

Booking Thankyou

Level :

Call

Ice Screws and Accessories

Level :

Call

Alpine Icefall Climbing

Level :

Call

Edward (2017)

Level :

Call

Steve

Level :

Call

BT

Level :

Call

Why We Love British Trad Climbing!

Level :

Call

Off-Piste Ski Technique: Five Key Focus Points

Level :

Call

ISM Summer Alpine Conditions

Level :

Call

Donald Connolly

Level :

Call

Maite Iriarte

Level :

Call

Michael Firth

Level :

Call

Clare

Level :

Call
Lake Louise

How to climb waterfall ice

Level :

Call

Arc'teryx Psiphon AR Pant review

Level :

Call

The Mittellegi Integral

Level :

Call

A clients view on 'being guided'

Level :

Call

Canadian Rockies First Ascent by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Climbing on Gran Canaria by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

ISM Guide climbs hard mixed route in the Lakes

Level :

Call

Kuilu & Son Kul Expedition 2009

Level :

Call

Adventures in Alaska by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Tien Shan Expedition 2007 by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

Ethiopia: More Climbs and Finds by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 05 by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

Sandstone Towers in Ethiopia by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

Heaven and Ice

Level :

Call

Courses

Level :

Call
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

Level :

Call
Rock Improvers 1

Rock Climbing Improvers

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Call
Classic Rock 1

Classic Rock - Lake District

Level 2: Guided Courses

Call
Ski Touring Advice

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call
Private Guiding Icefalls 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call
Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Classic Icefalls 2026

Level 2: Guided Courses

Mar 2026
£2,495
Summer Alpine 19

Vital Information

Level :

Call
Icefall Equipment

Icefall Climbing Equipment

Level :

Call
Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Level :

Call
Chamonix with Steve Martin 016

Things to do in Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mont Blanc

Level :

Call
14

Privacy Policy

Level :

Call
Intro Off Piste 1

Passport & Visas

Level :

Call

About ISM

Level :

Call

Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Paolo Intropido

Level :

Call

Christian Türk

Level :

Call

ISM Historical

Level :

Call

Contact ISM

Level :

Call

Getting Into & Developing Your Climbing

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2023 – Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

Level :

Call

Booking Order Thankyou

Level :

Call

Kyrgyzstan Faces 2022

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2022 - Fergana Range, Kyrgyzstan

Level :

Call

Petzl 'Alpen Adapt' Crampons

Level :

Call

William Summits and Skills 4000m 2021

Level :

Call

William 2021

Level :

Call
22

Packing to stay overnight in an alpine hut

Level :

Call

Prussiking Up A Rope

Level :

Call
Arcteryx alpha fl 45 backpack

Rucksacks for Summer Alpine Mountaineering

Level :

Call

Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 3

Level :

Call

Refreshing your Crevasse Rescue and Snow Belay Knowledge - Part 1

Level :

Call
Mountaineering boots

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Boots

Level :

Call
TAA

Clothing for summer alpine mountaineering

Level :

Call

Avalanche Categories

Level :

Call

Alpine Grades

Level :

Call
DSC07095 Copy

Glacial Travel 2 People Set-Up

Level :

Call
DSC07396 2

Glacial Travel 3 People Set-Up

Level :

Call
Arc teryx alpha fl

Packing Your Waterproofs

Level :

Call
5 Copy 2

My Climbing Harnesses & Helmet

Level :

Call
Tom placing gear leading 2

My Trad Climbing Rack

Level :

Call
Sarken crampon

A look at some of the different types of crampons available

Level :

Call
Petzl Rope

My Climbing Ropes

Level :

Call
Boots Advice

My Icefall Climbing Crampons

Level :

Call
My Axes vid image

My Icefall Climbing Ice Axes

Level :

Call
Racking Ice Screws inmage

Racking Ice Screws

Level :

Call
Ice Screw Video

Ice Screws

Level :

Call

Christmas Newsletter 2020

Level :

Call

Helping you plan your Alpine Goals

Level :

Call

Canadian Ice Climbing

Level :

Call

Summer Newsletter 2020

Level :

Call
Teaching1 2

How to build a belay using a rope when traditional climbing

Level :

Call
Abalokov

Making an Abalakov or 'V' Thread ice anchor.

Level :

Call
DSC03968 2 PS

What's in my backpack - Technical Alpinism

Level :

Call
Talkeetna Air Taxi

Adrian Nelhams flies into the Kitchatna Spires, Alaska

Level :

Call
Day3 4

What's in my backpack - Classic Alpinism

Level :

Call
DSC05101 2

What's in my backpack - Trad Climbing

Level :

Call
DSC08206

What's in my backpack - Single Day Ski Tour

Level :

Call
Image00008

What's in my backpack - Icefall Climbing

Level :

Call

On-sighting - Tips and Techniques

Level :

Call

Red-Pointing - Tips and techniques

Level :

Call

Reflecting on my winter icefall climbing

Level :

Call

New Routes in the Canadian Rockies

Level :

Call

Which Boots do I need?

Level :

Call

Christmas Newsletter 2019

Level :

Call

Some thoughts on rope choice linked into decision making

Level :

Call
Kyrgyzstan 16

The Art Of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread

Level :

Call

Is Your Avalanche Transceiver Working Properly?

Level :

Call

Leash or Leashless?

Level :

Call

Traditional Climbing on a Single Rope

Level :

Call

Icefall Climbing This Winter

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2019 – The Pamir Mountains

Level :

Call

Transceiver Group Check

Level :

Call

Snow Shovels - advice and recommendations

Level :

Call

Expedition Climbing and Planning a Trip

Level :

Call

Review of the Barryvox S Transceiver.

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Summits Expedition 2018 Trip Report

Level :

Call

Arc’teryx Procline Lite Ski Boot Review.

Level :

Call

Summer Newsletter 2018

Level :

Call

Waterfall Ice Safety Leaflet

Level :

Call

Wild Horses

Level :

Call

Crampons

Level :

Call

Ice Axes

Level :

Call

James (2017)

Level :

Call

David (2017)

Level :

Call

Rachel (2017)

Level :

Call

R W (2017)

Level :

Call

Steve (2017)

Level :

Call

KL (2017)

Level :

Call

Tim

Level :

Call

EP

Level :

Call

The Wild Side

Level :

Call

ISM Virgin Summits Expedition 2017 Trip Report

Level :

Call

Transceiver and Avalanche Rescue

Level :

Call

ISM Kyrgyzstan (Pamirs) Virgin Summits Expedition 2016

Level :

Call
Boots Advice

What is a B1 or B2 boot?

Level :

Call

Ski Touring Equipment Advice

Level :

Call

Winter Ice Climbing Kit – Get ready for the Ice!

Level :

Call

Kalymnos

Level :

Call

ISM Kyrgyzstan (Pamirs) Virgin Summits Expedition 2015

Level :

Call

ISM Celebrating 50 years

Level :

Call

Article in 'The Professional Mountaineer' on Heuristic Traps

Level :

Call

BMG Guides Summer Rock 1

Level :

Call

Lachlan MacGregor

Level :

Call

David Hughes

Level :

Call

Chris Ward

Level :

Call

Donald Connolly

Level :

Call

Jo Clark

Level :

Call

Andy Challenor

Level :

Call

Ian Twizell

Level :

Call

Leigh Ritchie

Level :

Call

ISM West Kokshal-Too Expedition

Level :

Call
Ade Ice Header PS

How to climb waterfall ice - part 2

Level :

Call
DSC03789

Taking Coils

Level :

Call
Teaching leading

Building an ice screw belay

Level :

Call

The Dolomites Ski Safari

Level :

Call

Kyrgyzstan 2014

Level :

Call

Homepage

Level :

Call

Fond memories of Pete Boardman

Level :

Call

The Brunton Hydrogen Reactor

Level :

Call

The Cordillera Blanca - Peru

Level :

Call

Kyrgyzstan - Adventure Travel Magazine Article

Level :

Call

Ice Article - Professional Mountaineer Magazine

Level :

Call

Spring Newsletter

Level :

Call

Pat Littlejohn Interview

Level :

Call

2012 Expedition Report – Tien Shan

Level :

Call

Courses for Challenge and Enjoyment

Level :

Call

Kyrgyzstan 2010 – ISM At Bashi Expeditions

Level :

Call

ISM Instructional Courses by Pat Littlejohn

Level :

Call

Expedition Gear for Kyrgyzstan by Steve Taylor

Level :

Call

My Kyrgyzstan Trip by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Latest News from Adrian

Level :

Call

Bulletin from Leysin - Hope, Noise and Great Ice!

Level :

Call

ISM West Kokshal-Too Expedition, 2008

Level :

Call

Winter report from Terry & Graham

Level :

Call

Award for Services to Mountaineering

Level :

Call

Alpine Weather News - by Terry Ralphs

Level :

Call

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

Level :

Call

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

Level :

Call

2006 Ice-Climbing round-up, by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Borkoldoy Report, CLIMB Magazine 2006

Level :

Call

The Urner Alps - alpine rock paradise, by Terry Ralphs

Level :

Call

Ice Climbing Kit Check by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

Sun Rock on Sardinia by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

ISM Central Borkoldoy Expedition - September 2005

Level :

Call

Winter first ascents in Canada by Adrian Nelhams

Level :

Call

The Client’s Eye on the Guide Guy!

Level :

Call

ISM Central Borkoldoy Expedition - September 2004

Level :

Call

ISM - Virgin Peaks of the Tien Shan - 2003

Level :

Call

ISM West Kokshaal-too Expedition, 2002

Level :

Call

Mountain Info - High magazine, August 2000

Level :

Call
ISM-Alpine-4-1400x300

Summer Alpine Mountaineering

Level :

Call
Private Guiding 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call
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
Call
Custom Courses 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call
Try Climbing Outdoors 1

Try Climbing Outdoors

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Call
Indoor to Outdoor 1

Indoor Wall to Outdoor Climbing

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Call
Coaching lead Climbing 1

Coaching Lead Climbing

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Call
Alpine Preparation 1

Alpine Preparation

Level 1: Guided Courses

Call
Scrambling Skills 1

Scrambling Skills

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Call
ISM-Exped-2-1400x300

Expeditions & Treks

Level :

Call
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

Call
ISM-Ice-1-1400x300

Ice Climbing

Level :

Call
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

Call

Knowledge Base

Level :

Call
Kyrgyzstan 2

Educational Videos

Level :

Call
Equipment 1

Equipment Information

Level :

Call
Summer Alpine Equipment

Summer Alpine Mountaineering Equipment

Level :

Call
Ski Touring Equipment

Ski Touring Equipment

Level :

Call
Off Piste Ski Equipment

Off-Piste Ski Equipment

Level :

Call
Ski Touring Advice

Ski Touring Equipment Advice

Level :

Call
Boots Advice

Boots & Crampons

Level :

Call
Kyrgyzstan Equipment

Kyrgyzstan Equipment

Level :

Call
Classic 4000m 1

Prices

Level :

Call
Gran Paradiso 1

Insurance Information

Level :

Call
Plan B hotel 1

Getting to Le Fayet, St Gervais Mont Blanc

Level :

Call
Classic Alpine Ascents 1

Payment Information

Level :

Call
Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Booking Conditions

Level :

Call
Classic Dolomites Ice 1

Canadian Icefalls Information

Level :

Call
20220906 082540

Virgin Peaks Expedition 2026 Information

Level :

Call
Sardinia Trekking 1

Sardinia Trek information

Level :

Call
ISM-Alpine-4-1400x300

News, Articles and Trip Reports

Level :

Call

Why Choose ISM?

Level :

Call

The ISM Team

Level :

Call

Steve Monks

Level :

Call

Terry Ralphs

Level :

Call

Tommaso Dusi

Level :

Call

Carlo Cosi

Level :

Call

Enrico Mosetti

Level :

Call

Matt Stygall

Level :

Call

Christian Edelstam

Level :

Call

Mark Charlton

Level :

Call
ISM-Exped-1400x300

Our Partners

Level :

Call

Reviews

Level :

Call

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

This was a fantastic trip. Paolo was excellent. The accommodation great. All helped along by wall to wall sunshine, stunning arctic scenery and some superb snow, so no problems as far as I'm concerned.

Steve (2017)

Please pass on my very, very sincere thanks to Thomas, Daniel & Christian. They are truly quality people! Patient, understanding, professional, and wonderful ambassadors for your company. I have experienced many guides over my 50 years in climbing and they rank right up there with the very best.

David Hughes

Terry was a wonderful guide and made everything fun, laid-back and an overall good experience. I would be happy to ski or climb with him again. All the logistics in Leysin and in Italy went smoothly. A really nice time.

KL (2017)

All Reviews

Team Spotlight

Tom Bw

Tommaso Dusi

IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide

Tommaso is a an experienced Italian mountain guide and regular year-round ISM team member. He loves the mountains and helping people to connect and find happiness in nature.

Read More

Knowledge Base

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

Read More
UIAGM / IFMGA Guide Award Equipment Partner Retail Partner Retail Partner