A handful of mountaineers stroll towards the cliffs of Saltdean, ice axes at the ready, crampons glinting in the sun, carabiners and quickdraws jangling as they walk. They’re ready to practise their ice climbing and mixed climbing techniques, using the cliffs as a training ground for bigger adventures in the Scottish Highlands or the European Alps. If you’re unfamiliar with Saltdean’s cliffs – and I’m guessing you will be – you might not raise an eyebrow at this. That is, until someone tells you that the rock face above these would-be alpinists is made of chalk rather than ice.
The mountaineers in question have travelled down to England's south coast from London, eager to try their hand at a spot of dry tooling on the white cliffs. The closest they’ll get to ice on this trip will probably be when one of them orders a coke from a local cafe during lunchtime.
