Ice Climbing

I recently traveled to Ouray, Colorado to do some ice climbing. I timed the trip to coincide with the Ice Festival. The weather was good for climbing, cold and clear. I attended some slide shows given by some of the best mountaineers in the world in the evening at the old down town theatre in Ouray. Soaking in the hot springs is always welcome at night. While there I didn't feel special and I even felt like an amateur seeing some great climbing. But back here in St. George things are different. Not many ice climbers here or even mountaineers. Here I am a bit more unique, but not in Ouray that weekend. It is always good to get back down in the warm sun of the desert too. I would enjoy ice climbing even more if it wasn't so darn cold doing it! What I like about climbing ice is developing the skills I can use high on a mountain when the terrain is steep and covered in snow and ice. It is really cool to ascend a curtain of icicles or a pillar of ice. It is hard to explain but the more I do it, the more I seek it out. Having good gear really helps too.