Ice climbing!

As a new member of COE staff, I had the opportunity to participate in the annual ice climbing clinic this year. As one person put it - "With so many pointy things, how can it not be fun?".

Lick Brook Gorge, just outside of Ithaca and the site of the 2009 Cornell Outdoor Education staff ice climbing clinic. The ice ranges from a pretty shallow angle (left) to near vertical more to the right.

Ice axe. To ice climb you need one of these in each hand. Just bury the sharp point into the ice and use as a handhold!

Crampons. One of these on each foot. These also get swung into the ice as you go up. Just bury the sharp points into the ice and use as a foothold!

Put it all together, and you can climb up vertical (or even overhung) ice. Its actually remarkably stable if all the pointy gear is in the ice right.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset on the way out...

Impressions? I definitely agree with the quote above. I'd do it again any day, although the site we were at was definitely easy climbing. As for sinking hundreds of dollars into the specialized gear? Not so sure yet.