Ice climb

I tried this for the first time while climbing Iceland’s Vatnajökull glacier. I was impressed with how challenging it was, but also how rewarding. I am hoping to do this again a little closer to home during winter months. Always looking for exciting outdoor winter workouts.

I’d like to give ice climbing a go at some stage, but it’s not exactly one of my 43 major goals. So I’m taking it off to save space on my list!

There is something about hearing the thunk of an ice tool embedding into ice that is addictive. I don’t get to do this much these days but I have spent some time in southern ontario and in the Adirondack mtns climbing ice.

G

Somehow it seemed more scary than rock climbing—at least the very first step was! I was only holding onto the ice with two picks in my hands and the crampons (big spikes) on my boots. Unlike rock climbing, where I am usually hugging the rock, ice climbing left me suspended in the air maybe a foot away from the climbing surface. Eek! But then it got easier and it was really fun!