CANAZEI CLIMBING FIELD GUIDE
Weekend on Vertical Ice: Learning to Climb the Cascate di Ghiaccio of Canazei
A two-day weekend course in Val di Fassa that teaches basic ice-climbing technique, safety and anchor-building so beginners can step confidently onto vertical ice.
Weekend on Vertical Ice: Learning to Climb the Cascate di Ghiaccio of Canazei.
Set in the icy amphitheaters above Canazei, this weekend course introduces climbers to the essentials of moving on frozen waterfalls: crampons and ice tools, knots and safety, and the fundamentals of building protection on ice.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Cascate di ghiaccio in Val di Fassa
The course places you among the region’s vertical ice formations—an entry-level introduction to climbing frozen waterfalls and the atmospheric terrain that surrounds Canazei.
Rambozoni, piccozze e nodi: le tecniche fondamentali
Across the weekend you’ll learn how to move safely with crampons and ice tools, tie essential knots and practise basic movement on angled ice before progressing to steeper terrain.
Dalla sicurezza su terreno appoggiato all’ice verticale
Structured progression is at the heart of the course: a first day focused on safety and technique on low-angle ice, followed by introduction to vertical ice and anchored progression the next day.
What the day feels like
What the weekend feels like
Over two focused days participants meet with the guide, receive and check equipment, practise safety and knots on mellow ice slopes, then consolidate those skills with supervised steps onto vertical ice and instruction in placing ice screws and creating abalakov anchors.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who should consider other options.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a weekend course; the program runs across two days with defined Saturday and Sunday sessions.
Participants receive material checked and handed out by the guide; the course centers on using crampons and ice tools and will cover their correct use.
Meeting is in Val di Fassa for kit check, briefing and start of the course.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the course?
The course runs over a weekend (two days).
Where do we meet?
Participants meet in Val di Fassa for kit handover and the initial briefing with the guide.
Do I need prior experience with crampons or ice tools?
No prior experience is required; the course is designed for people who have never used crampons and ice tools and introduces basic techniques and safety.
Will equipment be provided?
The guide conducts a check and hands out material during the meeting, indicating that essential equipment is provided or issued as part of the course.
What skills will I learn over the weekend?
You will practise safety and knots, basic movement on inclined ice, then progress to vertical-ice technique, placing protections and building anchors such as abalakovs.
What is the difficulty level of the course?
The course is presented as a medium level introduction with a structured progression suitable for beginners who wish to approach ice climbing.