Chugach Moutain Range, Alaska
"On belay"..."Belay on"..."Climbing"
In the begining the axe took quite well to the ice.
The blade penetrated the ice lens like a knife slicing the walls of an orange rind.
This would not last, but at the time it seemed ok to me as my crampons were deeply imbedded in the ice fall.
Looking down I saw familiar faces covered in a blanket of water.
Lines connected to belts connecting to others.
Your eyes become soggy about 4 minutes into an ice climb as barely melting water hits your face.
Goggles offer little protection and it is simply a matter of time before you can't see at all.
Loss of vision is of course no reason to stop climbing. It may hinder your progress, but there is no stopping at this point.
To stop is to admit defeat, dangling on the end of a rope.
"Chunk... Chunk" the sounds of my feet hitting the ice kept my mind from wandering to warmer climates.
As I rise through the falling ice and water my hands begin to freeze. It's ok, I will not drop my tools, or perhaps I cannot.
I progress, looking for solid ice like a starving man looking for a grub burrowed in a log. I chip away with one hand while holding my balance with the other.
Soon I will be on the top of this obstacle... which will lead to the next. But my mind is wandering: "don't think of the last move, just think of the next"
I tell myself.
"Rip"
It's too late, my mind has strayed. I dangle like a cat on a noose. The pain in my body bears no comparison to that in my mind.
"Dropping" I yell. I must try this problem again...
To view Alaska gallary click the images below
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I want more info on NOLS ALASKA
"There are two types of mountaineers: smart ones and dead ones."
In the begining the axe took quite well to the ice. The blade penetrated the ice lens like a knife slicing the walls of an orange rind. This would not last, but at the time it seemed ok to me as my crampons were deeply imbedded in the ice fall. Looking down I saw familiar faces covered in a blanket of water.
Lines connected to belts connecting to others.
Your eyes become soggy about 4 minutes into an ice climb as barely melting water hits your face. Goggles offer little protection and it is simply a matter of time before you can't see at all. Loss of vision is of course no reason to stop climbing. It may hinder your progress, but there is no stopping at this point. To stop is to admit defeat, dangling on the end of a rope.
"Chunk... Chunk" the sounds of my feet hitting the ice kept my mind from wandering to warmer climates. As I rise through the falling ice and water my hands begin to freeze. It's ok, I will not drop my tools, or perhaps I cannot. I progress, looking for solid ice like a starving man looking for a grub burrowed in a log. I chip away with one hand while holding my balance with the other. Soon I will be on the top of this obstacle... which will lead to the next. But my mind is wandering: "don't think of the last move, just think of the next" I tell myself.
"Rip"
It's too late, my mind has strayed. I dangle like a cat on a noose. The pain in my body bears no comparison to that in my mind.
"Dropping" I yell. I must try this problem again...
To view Alaska gallary click the images below
HOME I want more info on NOLS ALASKA
"There are two types of mountaineers: smart ones and dead ones."