What’s your idea of an extreme sport? Bungee jumping? Hang gliding? There often is a fine line between fun and fear in these activities. Throw an extreme environment into the mix, and you have a recipe for… ice climbing?
“Ice climbing is an activity of climbing through ice structures or formations. These formations may be in the form of frozen waterfalls, icefalls, ice slabs or rocks covered with frozen water or ice, or artificial structures,” according to the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, or UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme).
Frozen landscapes are pretty to look at, but ice climbers get up close and personal with ice. “What makes ice climbing beautiful is that it is nature in its raw form and routes are not always the same after a first climb,” says the UIAA. Like many outdoor adventures, it comes with a higher risk of danger than traditional sports, so being prepared with proper knowledge and equipment is key
For first-timers, local outdoors clubs can be a great resource for professional-quality guides and gear. Perfect Fuel creator Nicolas Warren utilized the MIT Outdoors Club (MITOC) for a trip to New Hampshire, saying that MITOC allowed him to “do something I wouldn’t otherwise get to do.” MITOC organizes events with trained leaders and provides rental gear for an affordable fee – the perfect setup for beginners and those who are adventurous but not quite affluent.
Nicolas was interested in ice climbing because it is “extreme, something not everyone gets to do.” He found that he gained a “profound new respect for the gear protecting me,” but it was also a “freeing” experience, rooted in a deep connection to nature. He describes the overall effect as both “calming” and “invigorating” and the level of effort required, “humbling.”
Casual enthusiasts might partake in an occasional weekend trip, or even festivals in places like Colorado and Alaska. But in recent years, ice climbing has also become an international competitive sport. Competitions take place on man-made courses and fall into one of three categories: speed, lead, and boulder difficulty. Get a glimpse of the man-made structures and see competitors in action in this video!
[vsw id=”uW8nLHAMy5M” source=”youtube” width=”360″ height=”244″ autoplay=”no”]I’m not sure if I’ll try ice climbing anytime soon, but if I do, I really hope that I pay enough attention not to have a slab of ice fall onto my face (or worse!).
What’s the most extreme sport you’ve tried?
Post written by: Rebecca Dobrzynski