Ice Day for a Party

Ok, so after Dereck and I did our winter skills course, we were of course keen to get out and practice what we had learned. Not only did we get that chance, but we actually were able to get and learn more...much more! Roland and Harry were quite a bit more experienced than Dereck and I and taught us plenty. However first of all they flung us onto an ice climb! They got us climbing with ice axes which we've never done before. The first effort was a frozen ice sheet about 8-10 feet high, pretty much vertical, which then continued on up a icy rocky surface. Below it was a 40 degree slope that sloped down about 30 meters (100feet) which you wouldn't have wanted to slide down.

I struggled a bit on our first climb because I didn't have my crampons digging straight into the ice, and I was using my hands to hold onto the ice picks and pull myself up rather than using the straps to hold my weight.

After the fun and excitement of Dereck's and my first climb we went to a lesser slope and practiced our arrests (view the video at the bottom), which are safety stops with your ice axe in case you do end up sliding down a 30 degree slope, and sliding 100 feet to an edge, or a pile of rocks. Basically it's just getting onto your stomach and getting your ice axe into the snow to slow and stop you. Roland also showed us to do bollard, and T axe belaying techiques.

After that we went off in search of another ice sheet, and found one! On our second effort I was much better climbing. It took us to a slope where it wasn't as steep, but did have a big frozen lip at the top which was a little tricky. However with better foot placement, and use of the straps rather than my hand strength I did much better, with less effort.

All in all it was great fun, and we're keen to do it again! If there's snow again in the next few weeks.

Keen, seeing as it's 7:30 in the morning

Nicely clearing and lighting up, the hills are orange with the sun's morning glow.

So much for clearing up, it's now getting "claggy".

Hmmmm, good sign that we may find some ice!

It was a steep climb up to the first ice sheet, crampons and axe required! Dereck gingerly making his way up.

Me at the top of my first ice climb, the ice sheet is below me, and went about 8-10 feet up.

Me moving on to the easier, but still tricky rocky ice sections

Roland setting up the safety lines

Roland tackling the ice sheet, don't look back!

Harry with a low key celebration.

The view as it starts to clear up briefly.

The second ice sheet, Roland in action getting his gear sorted.

Me on the second ice sheet, just about to tackle the top.

I'm almost there, hey mom look at me! (Hey me, don't look down)

Doh, I just looked down.

Dereck getting excited and started on the second sheet.

No no Dereck, don't look down, look up!

Some of the winter wonder

Roland getting started on his second climb

Roland, smile for the camera!

Roland almost at the top.

He did it, he can see over the ridge!

Below is short video of me practicing my sliding arrest with my ice axe...the key is to keep your feet up so that if you have crampons you don't catch them and break your leg with the impact.