2 Days
1:4 Guide Ratio
Technical Difficulty: Intermediate
Available January-March

Located in Tana Valley, just 2 hours driving from Tbilisi and 25 km from Gori, is the stunning waterfall of Biisi. This spectacular frozen waterfall soars 45m tall and is both easily accessible and approachable (just 30 minutes of trekking). It hosts a wide range of grades and climbing categories, making it an ideal place to refresh your technique and further enhance your ice climbing skills and knowledge.

Our 2 day intermediate level course is specifically designed for those who have prior ice climbing experience and wish to further enhance their skills. For experience required, you do not have to lead your climbs, but you should be able to climb and follow up a grade 3. This course is led by our IFMGA/GMGA professional guides, who will instruct you on more advanced techniques so you can build your confidence and further grow your ice climbing knowledge. You will be lead on routes that you normally might not go on without a guide, all with the quality instruction and support of your guide along the way.

This single day course includes transportation to and from Tbilisi. We also offer multi-day programs at request, where we will completely design an itinerary based on your needs (including accommodation and transportation). Please contact us so we can create your customized package.

Course Outcomes

Familiarization with necessary ice climbing tools. (Ice tools, ropes, ice screws, crampons, clothes layering systems)
Belay and rappel techniques on ice
Dangers of falling on ice and risk management
Climbing techniques (ice axe swing, reading the ice to find good placement for tools, managing physical fatigue, footwork)
Lead Climbing on Ice (how to place screws, finding best routes and ice, rope technique, anchor and ice screw organization)
Descending and organizing ropes for rappels (including how to manage wet and icy ropes and techniques specific to winter mountaineering)

Experience Recommended

You should have previous experience climbing with crampons and using ice axes, this can be with alpinism or ice climbing. This course is the next level up from our beginners ice climbing course (or any of our alpine summits or alpine courses).

Fitness Levels recommended

You should be physically fit, as spending a full day in cold environments can be physically exhausting. You can prepare by doing some hiking, trail running, swimming, or cycling.

Course Itinerary (Customizable)

Meetup Day

Meet your guide at the meetup location in Tbilisi the night before the course starts, where you will have a brief introduction and the guide will check all your gear. This will allow time to rent any necessary gear.

Course Day

At early morning, we will drive to Tana Valley, which is about 2 hours from Tbilisi. We will start the approach to the frozen waterfall which will take us 30 minutes trekking through a trail. The goal of this day is for the guide to show you different techniques. You’ll be instructed how certain equipment works. It’s important this day that you understand all the safety aspects as well. You’ll work on rope work, climbing techniques, and protection placement. By the end of the course, you will be fully prepared to climb moderately difficult ice falls independently. After an intensive day of climbing and instruction, we will head back to Tbilisi.

Equipment Needed for the Course

Technical Gear

Harness – Mountaineering or climbing harness with 2 screw karabiners and 60cm tape sling. Harness should be able to fit with your mountaineering jackets on

Helmet – Standard climbing helmet

Alpine Climbing Boots – Shoes should be waterproof, insulated, and with a solid sole. Preferably, semi-automatic or automatic crampons should fit the boot. (B2 or B3 crampons). The boots should be designed for alpine mountaineering and ice climbing.

Overboots / Gaiters – Gaiters are essential to avoid getting the boots wet. Protecting you from getting wet and from hitting your trousers with crampons.

Crampons – Crampons should be automatic or semi-automatic. Designed for ice climbing. 12 point steel with anti-balling, which is preventing snow sticking.

Technical Ice Axes – with adze and sharpened picks. 1 pair needed

Trekking Poles – not necessary, but if you prefer to bring for 30 minutes of trekking

Personal Clothing & Gear

Headlamp

Eye protection – sunglasses for mountaineering that fit face snug and tight. Should be 3-4^th category

Waterproof Shell Jacket

Down Jacket – Light-medium weight preferably. Hooded or without hood is fine

Mid Layer Jacket – Fleece Jacket to put on top of thermal layer

Thermal Base Layer Shirt – Can be a synthetic or wool layer. Should be long sleeve, preferably ¼ or ½ zipper for ventilation.

Waterproof Shell Trousers

Thermal Base Layer Underwear/Leggings

Beanie hat, buff, balaclava – Gear to keep the head and face warm.

Water Proof Insulated Gloves or Mittens

Trekking Gloves – Should be warm, but not bulky

Socks – Lightweight and medium weight mountaineering wool socks.

Other Essentials

50+ SPF Sun protection SPF for lips and face.

Thermos – Up to 1 liter

Reusable water bottle – Up to 1 liter

Pricing Options

Group of 1 — 400 EUR per person
Group of 2 — 200 EUR per person
Group of 3 — 135 EUR per person
Group of 4 — 100 EUR per person

*Please contact us for pricing on groups larger than 4 people

Price Includes

1 day with GMGA certified local mountain guide (English and/or Russian speaking)
Transportation from Tbilisi to Biisi Waterfall and back to Tbilisi
Ice Climbing Group Equipment

Price Excludes

Alcoholic beverages and snacks
Meals
Equipment rental fees
Personal clothing and gear
Travel insurance

Biisi Waterfall Intermediate Ice Climbing Course