Vail Ice Climbing

I have gone Ice Climbing once a year for the last few years. It is a sport, adventure, and most of all it is challenging. Challenging to photograph and challenging to do. There is something surreal about being next to this frozen mass of water. Using daggers on your hands and feet to scale the wall. As I begin my ascent I wonder if I still remember how to even do this. My footing slips. I need to kick harder. I begin to get into a rhythm. I look down. I’m much higher than I thought. My heart races. I start breathing heavy. I rest. I relax. I am safe. I climb on. I succeed.