Ice Climbing

Saturday I went ice climbing for the first time - mega rush! It's awsome when you're 100 feet up and you can see the water flowing on the other side and you're thinking "What the hell am I doing?" We were on a frozen waterfall about a mile up a canyon next to Ogden, Utah. The climb was about 30 meters and rated WI4 (WI for Water Ice, as opposed to alpine and glacier ice), which means "Good protection is still available on these routes but the route approaches vertical with fewer rests." I climbed it 3 times - twice with leashed tools and the last time leashless. The leashes allow you to hang by your wrist to rest, plus you can't drop them and ding them, which can cause a stess fracture and means you just trashed $200+ apeice. The leashless let you get a lot more technical and really push the limits, especially when you're top roped.

The adrenaline rush of the day was when I overstreatched placing my ice tools. When I lifted my left foot, my right gave way because I changed the angle on the crampons by raising on my calf. Then my left tool gave way and I was hanging by one tool. I was roped in, but my brain sure didn't know it.

All in all it was a blast and I can't wait to go again. Sorry, but no pics.