A Winter Outing

so, i went ice climbing for the first time ever, an interesting experience to say the least. can't say it was the greatest thing i have ever done, but in the absence of dry rock, it is a nice excuse to do some pull ups.

with my best friend and climbing partner tomasz having moved to the netherlands, i  have had to take resumes for a new friend and, more importantly, climbing partner. iordanis seems to meet the criteria, though not technically a sport climber, there is potential, and he is an accomplished mountaineer and ice climber, and has done a bit of sport. additionally he teaches at pinewood, and is a pretty nice guy, ok.

here is the icefall we started on. it is maybe 20 meters with vertical sections broken by less than vertical ledges. i made it up no falls on my first try, more out of sheer fear than any actual skill. i was impressed that i could get my fat butt up the ice though.

it is an unnerving experience with ice flying everywhere, icicles, which are beautiful when you are not directly underneath them wildly swinging axes around, quickly become death-cicles, and then there is the repetitive muscle movements that wear down, and tear a single muscle group until it feels like your biceps and calves are going to literally herniate through your skin . . . but, fun. i'd do it again if invited.

i did not get a good shot of the other ice fall, but if you see the climber in the middle of this pic he is standing at the bottom of free standing ice pillar. it was vertical and a bit harder (i did it though so . . . not too difficult).

all with a beautiful backdrop.