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International School of Mountaineering
Summer Alpine 2

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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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Intro Summer Mountaineering Alps 1

Summits & Skills 4000m (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

May - Sep 2026
4:1 Ratio
£1,895
Monte Rosa Mountaineering 4000m Peaks 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 Alpine Mountaineering Alps 1

Student Alpine Week (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jul - Aug 2026
6:1 Ratio
£1395
Level 2 Summer Mountaineering Alps 1

Classic AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jun - Aug 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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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?

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Testimonials For ISM

I just wanted to thank you as well as Mark, our guide for the amazing week. The course was well organized and was just perfect for a beginner to mountaineering. We couldn't have wished for a better adventure. The memories are irreplaceable.

EP
Summits & Skills 4000m (Instructional Course)

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)

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)

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Team Spotlight

Terry-ralphs

Terry Ralphs

IFMGA British Mountain Guide

Terry learnt to climb on the gritstone edges of the Peak District then after graduating from Leeds University he decided to make his living in the outdoors, moving to North Wales to work at Plas y Brenin…

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Knowledge Base

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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