GreenMap organizes first Women’s Ice Climbing trip
Tying on the ropes.
BY CANDY SMITH
On February 11, a group of young women headed out to the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains. With crampons on their feet, harnesses around their waists, and ice tools in each hand, the women were nervous and excited about the new experience that they were embarking on – scaling up the sheet of ice that covered the rock face before them in an exhilarating sport known as ice climbing. This group was a part of GreenMap’s Women’s Ice Climbing trip, one of many ice climbing trips to be offered this semester. “Ice climbing is miserable, it’s cold, usually wet, and exhausting. When you finish a climb, your hands are cold and they hurt. Tools that can definitely pierce your skin are strapped to your hands and feet,” explains GreenMap climbing leader Zach Behney. “But the physical feeling of controlling your own ascent and safety on ice is super rewarding.”
Behney, who has been ice climbing for three years, says that the sport is also a way to keep good climbing condition in winter months. “It is a great way to stay in a somewhat decent shape in the off-season while staying familiar with all of the rope systems. Not to mention that wintertime in the natural world is usually breathtaking. Overall it’s just a great way to challenge yourself while getting outside in the winter.”
Many participants on the trip had never been ice climbing before, but decided to give it a try. “I’ve always wanted to try it, it was always an interest to me,” sophomore Rachel Worrell said. “It’s a lot harder than it looks. A hell of a lot harder. With the crampons, I thought you could just hit it (the ice) really hard and it would stick, but I was wrong. You have to go in at an angle.”
Ice climbing involves some special gear. Beyond the ropes, belay devices, and harnesses needed for rock climbing, the climber also uses two ice tools by grabbing the shafts of the tools and swinging the picks into the ice. Crampons, which are essentially a myriad of teeth-like metal blades attached to your boots, are kicked into the ice for foot stability. “I had never done it before, but I had heard all of my friends talking about it and was always a little curious. When I found out that one of my friends was leading a women’s trip, I figured it would be the best chance for me to really enjoy myself,” said senior Stacey Bushey, who had also been a participant of the February 11 trip. “I had a great time and I would really like to learn more about the sport. I have only gone once, so I didn’t really get a chance to learn proper form or techniques. It was more like climbing up anyway I could, and trying to remember what the trip leaders told me. I would like to do this again and really focus on learning more.”
Behney has advice for anyone looking to try out the sport, “If you know someone who ice climbs ask them to take you out. Maybe even offer to cook them dinner to take you out for an awesome day of climbing.”
Short URL: http://www.themountaineer.org/?p=415
Posted by Candy Smith
on Mar 3, 2009 Filed under Adventure.
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