just have to tell!

[martha]

I'm just so excited. I peed a little.

I did my first ice lead!! Hayes Falls, by headlamp. 10:30pm Wednesday night.

Huge thanks to Stef for the awesome belay and insight before the big send. Helpful hints like "the sharp pointy ends go in the ice" and "make sure you tie your figure of bowline correctly" went a long way in instilling the confidence I needed!



Nothing like taking pointers from an experienced climber!!

Getting home at 2am in the middle of the week is so worth the sleep deprivation for 4 hours of stellar ice climbing!

[mitchleblanc]

You're crazy, but congrats! Hey, but why do you tie in with a bowline? Easier to tie/untie with mittens? Or is it because you're trendy, and trendy route climbers tie in with a bowline?

I did some "first" today too. I onsighted my first 21, (you read correctly.. onsighted.. On LEAD) and I also dogged up a 25. I think that's pretty hard. It was hard for me, anyway. So I had a nice day.

[martha]

i don't use a bowline.

it was a joke mitch....

[mitchleblanc]

i don't use a bowline.

it was a joke mitch....

I don't get it. Lots of people do use a bowline, no? Seemed a good idea to me, after writing that mittens thing.. hmm..

[martha]

if you read mitch, the joke was that Stef said to me 'figure of bowline' which isn't even a knot. a 'figure 8' or a 'bowline' are both knots...

Do you get it yet?

[mitchleblanc]

if you read mitch, the joke was that Stef said to me 'figure of bowline' which isn't even a knot. a 'figure 8' or a 'bowline' are both knots...

Do you get it yet?

I get it! haha. He was saying the wrong thing! It wasn't really advice at all! Those kooky climbers...

[mathieu]

maybe stef took his advicehere.

Ice climbing tools can be expensive, but you don't want to attempt a climb with cheap tools. Your safety could be at stake. Start out with these pieces: a harness, ice axe, crampons, (spikes that fit on to the bottom of your boot) and ice screws (long threaded spikes that are hammered into the ice to form a hand or foot hold

[martha]

where did you find that quote?
hmm...I want to start hammering things in to make hand and foot holds. maybe we can bolt some of the nicer jugs from the gym to the ice......