ICE TRAINING: HOW TO BUILD A PLICE

Black Diamond Ambassador Will Gadd offers advice for building a Plice, a.k.a plywood ice.

Objective: Build a Plice (plywood ice)

Cost: Less than $100

Materials:

One sheet rough 3/4" plywood
Two 16-foot 2x4s
Six 8-foot 2x4s
32 feet of 1x3 (give or take) in 24-inch pieces.
3-inch deck screws, 2-inch screws.

First, build a frame with the 16-foot 2x4s. It should be 16 feet long and 24 inches wide with 2x4s on theends. "Ladder frame" this with a 22-inch 2x4 every 12 inches. When on its side it will basically look like a small 24-inch wall.
Cut the plywood in half the long way, creating two 2x8-inch pieces. Take a little care, but a skill saw rip is fine.
Screw the plywood to the frame.
Cut the 1x3 (roughly, just about anything will work) into 24-inch pieces. Screw these "foothold" pieces on so the top edge of the piece is roughly below the framing pieces on the other side of the plywood.
Get a 1-inch drill, and drill through the plywood just above the horizontal foothold piece and into the "stud" piece of 2x4 on the back. Makes these holes deep. You'll likely hit a screw or nail or something, so use an old bit if possible.
Hang the plice so it won't fall over. Put a t2x10 between two trees, and hang it there if you want to be able to adjust the angle, or tie it directly to a tree if you want a vertical plice. There's lots of solutions out there!

Enjoy!

—Will Gadd