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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

Jun - Sep 2025
4:1 Ratio
£1895
Classic Alpine Ascents 1

Classic Alpine Ascents

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Mt Blanc Extension 1

Mont Blanc (Extension)

Level 2: Guided Courses

1:1 Ratio
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Technical Alpine Rock 1

Alpine Rock

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jul - Aug 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Custom Courses 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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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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20220502 Climb Lake District RONEY 0817

Outdoor Climbing for Beginners

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
6:1 Ratio
£40
20220502 Climb Lake District RONEY 2758

Building Safe Anchors & Setting Up Top Ropes

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
6:1 Ratio
£40
3

LYO FOOD Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
3:1 Ratio
£50
20220501 Climb Lake District RONEY 2878

Grangers Rescue Techniques

Level 4: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
3:1 Ratio
£50
Bard Basberg - MSR

MSR Overnight Wild Camp

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
6:1 Ratio
£40
Kalymnos 1

Kalymnos

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ISM-Exped-2-1400x300

Expeditions & Treks

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Off Piste Ski Equipment

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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Icefall climbing 31

Ice Climbing Skills (Instructional Course)

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Jan - Mar 2025
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Icefalls 2025

Level 2: Guided Courses

Mar 2025
£2395
Summer Alpine 19

Vital Information

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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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Getting to Leysin

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Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Booking Conditions

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Event Photography and Video at the Arc'teryx Academy

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Why Choose ISM?

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Steve Monks

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Tommaso Dusi

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Matt Stygall

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Steve Jones

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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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22

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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Day3 4

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 2025
6:1 Ratio
£1395
Climbing Grunegghorn 2

Classic AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Classic 4000m 1

Classic 4000ers

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Monte Rosa Traverse 2

Monte Rosa 4000ers

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Aug 2025
3:1 Ratio
£1995
Bernese Oberland Climb 1

Bernese Oberland 4000ers

Level 2: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Mt Blanc Ascent 1

Mont Blanc Ascent

Level 1: Guided Courses

Jul - Aug 2022
1:1 Ratio
Call
1 rock course 3

Technical AlpinISM (Instructional Course)

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
3:1 Ratio
£2095
Technical 4000ers 1

Technical 4000ers

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jun - Sep 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Technical Alpine Ascents 1

Technical Alpine Ascents

Level 3: Guided Courses

Jun - Aug 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Matterhorn Ascent 1

Matterhorn Ascent

Level 3: Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

1:1 Ratio
Call
Expedition Training 1

Expedition Training

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Oct 2021
4:1 Ratio
Call
ISM-UK-rock-2-1400x300

Lake District Rock Climbing

Level :

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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

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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

Call
Short roping best

Roped Scrambling Skills & Techniques

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
6:1 Ratio
£45
Clinic bouldering walkin

Outdoor Bouldering for Beginners w/Global Arc’teryx Athletes

Level 1: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
6:1 Ratio
£40
Arcteryx Climb Lake district Sunday49 Copy

Women's Introduction to Trad Climbing

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
20220430 Climb Lake District RONEY 1528

Womens's Intro to Trad w/Mina Leslie Wujastyk

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
20220502 Climb Lake District RONEY 2850

UnParallel - Introduction to Trad Climbing

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
Clinic guide book

Progressing Your Trad Climbing w/Alex Luger

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
20220502 Climb Lake District RONEY 0584

GORE-TEX Women's Progression Trad Climbing

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
Langdale3 Copy

All Day: Women's Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
3:1 Ratio
£90
34 A5538 Bilberry Buttress VS Raven Crag Langdale 1 Copy

All Day: Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing - supported by LYO FOOD

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
3:1 Ratio
£90
20210801 113108

All Day: Fine Tune Your Lead Climbing w/ Alex Luger

Level 4: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£70
2 2

Fine Tune Your Lead Climbing w/Alex Luger

Level 4: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
3

Fine Tune Your Lead Climbing

Level 4: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£45
Womens Fine Tune Full Day header

All Day: Women's Fine Tune Your Lead Climbing

Level 4: Instructional Courses

Apr 2023
4:1 Ratio
£70
20220430 Climb Lake District BRIGGS 7491

NEW FOR 2023: Weekend Camping onsite at the Arc'teryx Climbing Academy

Instructional Courses

Apr - May 2023
£60

Sun Rock Destinations

Level :

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Morocco 1

Morocco Rock Improvers

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Nov 2020
2:1 Ratio
Call
Morocco 5

Morocco Lead Climbing

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Nov 2020
2:1 Ratio
Call
20220906 082540

2024 Virgin Peaks Expedition - Kyrgyzstan

Guided Courses

Aug - Sep 2024
£3495
Sardinia Trekking 1

Sardinia Trekking

Guided Courses

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

Off-Piste Skiing and Ski Touring

Level :

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Ski Touring Advice

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

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ISM-Ice-1-1400x300

Ice Climbing

Level :

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Private Guiding Icefalls 1

Private Guiding

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call
Classic Alpine Icefalls 1

Classic Alpine Icefalls

Level 2: Instructional Courses

Jan - Mar 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Technical Alpine Icefalls 1

Technical Alpine Icefalls

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Jan - Mar 2025
2:1 Ratio
£2395
Technical Canadian Icefalls 1

Canadian Icefalls 2025

Level 3: Instructional Courses

Mar 2025
£2395
Custom Weeks Icefalls 1

Custom Courses

Private Guiding & Custom Weeks

Call

Knowledge Base

Level :

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Kyrgyzstan 2

Educational Videos

Level :

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Img 8421

Arc'teryx Climbing Academy

Level :

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Equipment 1

Equipment Information

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Icefall Equipment

Icefall Climbing Equipment

Level :

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Ski Touring Equipment

Ski Touring Equipment

Level :

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Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Avalanche Awareness Equipment

Level :

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Ski Touring Advice

Ski Touring Equipment Advice

Level :

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Boots Advice

Boots & Crampons

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Kyrgyzstan Equipment

Kyrgyzstan Equipment

Level :

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Alpine Rock 3

Things to do in Leysin

Level :

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Gran Paradiso 1

Insurance Information

Level :

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14

Privacy Policy

Level :

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Classic Alpine Ascents 1

Payment Information

Level :

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Intro Off Piste 1

Passport & Visas

Level :

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Classic Dolomites Ice 1

Canadian Icefalls Information

Level :

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20220906 082540

Virgin Peaks Expedition 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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About ISM

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The ISM Team

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Adrian Nelhams

Level :

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Terry Ralphs

Level :

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Paolo Intropido

Level :

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Max Cole

Level :

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Sally Nelhams

Level :

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Carlo Cosi

Level :

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Enrico Mosetti

Level :

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Christian Türk

Level :

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Christian Edelstam

Level :

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Neil Hitchings

Level :

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Mark Charlton

Level :

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Rachael Crew-Smith

Level :

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Katie Mackay

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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.

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

"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)

​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
Classic 4000ers

Summiting Mont Blanc was an important milestone for me which I am grateful to all at ISM. Particularly Terry, who is the ultimate professional never compromising on safety. Max is a pure gem with wonderful guidance and outstanding people skills in abundance.Altogether a brilliant week!

David (2017)
Mont Blanc Ascent

All Reviews

Team Spotlight

steve-jones

Steve Jones

IFMGA British Mountain Guide

​Perhaps the most experienced British guide working in the Alps, Steve has lived in Switzerland for more than 30yrs. He is a member of the Swiss Guides association as well as the British Mountain Guides.

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Knowledge Base

ISM Virgin Peaks Expedition 2024 - Tien Shan Kyrgyzstan

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UIAGM / IFMGA Guide Award Equipment Partner Retail Partner Retail Partner