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January of this year I moved to Fernie, British Columbia, mostly for snowboarding. Learning to climb ice was not my primary interest when I moved to Canada, but Michael was excited about it and he needed a partner, so I bought some axes, crampons, and boots. The lack of snow in Fernie when we arrived, however, made it a primary activity. Canada is a paradise for ice climbers. The guide we have lists over 800 climbs, mostly in Alberta and British Columbia, and the author notes that there are dozens, if not hundreds, more to be discovered. All that is required is an area of drainage with a drop where the water can freeze from the top down, forming a curtain or pillar of ice. And the climbs can range anywhere from 50 feet long to over 3000. This was my first season and all the climbs we did are listed below in chronological order. If you're just going to look at a few, I recommend looking at Louise Falls, Weeping Wall, and The Professor Falls. This picture to the left is me soloing one of the steps on Devil's staircase. Sometimes it can be safer to climb a short pitch without protecting it because the riskiest and most likely place to fall is while placing protection. |
Echo Sadness
Devil's Staircase, a.k.a. Valley of the Sun
Coal Miner's Slut
Lady Wilson's Cleavage
Louise Falls
Weeping Wall Ascent
Weeping Wall Photos
William Fernie Was A Dick
The Professor Falls
This House of Sky
Beowulf
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
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