I have not posted anything in awhile to the great dismay of my Georgia bestie.  However, I have not been idle.  I have had a great many adventures so sit down and get ready for some fun up Bass Crk!  I’ve posted pictures of the falls up Bass creek and as luck would have it someone who ice climbs up there saw them on facebook and offered to take me along!!  I could barely contain my excitement in the two weeks before we went.  It had been bitter cold for most of January, but the week leading up to the climb the temperature started to creep towards the 30’s which was concerning for the ice stability.

 

The morning of the climb was warm and snowing big fluffy flakes.  I met my guide and one of his friends at the trailhead and we started the 3 mile hike back to the falls.  It was pleasant, quick hike and before I knew it we were standing at the base of the falls.  The warm weather had caused some damage to the main falls and they decided we would steer clear of it.  They picked a smaller fall to the right that they had climbed a few weeks before.

We left most of our gear at an overhang below the falls and started up.  I didn’t realize how steep it really was going up and how grateful I was to have my poles for stability.  I found a small overhang next to where they were belaying.  It was my hide out for when ice fell which I learned happened quite often and would hurt immensely if hit. Which I found out later in the day……

I have a background in rock climbing and found ice climbing to be similar.  It’s almost easier in that you get to put your ax where ever you want.  Your hand holds aren’t limited for the most part.  I loved the axes and the the large spikes of the cramp-ons.  They use large screws to anchor into the ice as they climb.  It was fun to watch the first ascent,  the rhythm of hand, hand, foot, foot and a pause for putting in a new screw.  Ice would cascade down as the climber went up.  Looking up you could see when pieces were coming and take cover.  Both my guides climbed and  while I had insisted that I was along as an observer only since this was my first time out, I was offered the chance to actually climb and jumped on it.  As I didn’t have any climbing gear of my own I was graciously lent boots, axes and a harness.  I switched boots,  got harnessed up and started up!!

I began a bit below where the guys had because it was sloped a little less.  It turns out it was a lot harder to get the ax into the ice than I thought it would be.  I had to really swing and put a lot into it to get it to stick.  Kicking in my boots was no problem though.

I made it about 1/2 way to the top before my hands were completely frozen.  I also didn’t realize how cold they would get.  My guide said it was because I was holding on to the axes too tight while I climbed.  I was holding on to the axes super tight though because I was terrified of dropping one.  If I had dropped one it could have hit some one or it would be very dangerous to go out on the snow field to retrieve it.  They don’t let you have a leash for your axes either because if you fall and the ax is attached it could stab you.  So tightly I held on to the detriment of my fingers.  It took quite a while for my hands to regain normal feeling and it was a painful process but totally worth it!

My guides climbed a couple more times before we called it a day.  It was during one of these climbs that I got hit in the back with a piece of ice.  They had told me to always be looking up and it was a good thing I was.  I saw that piece of ice coming and had just enough time to get my head down.  I’m glad I did because if that sucker had hit my face I would have had to be carried off the mountain.  I had a sore shoulder for a few days but that won’t stop me from going again.

When we arrived that morning you could hear water falling behind the big falls, by the time we left you could see water running over the big falls and on the rocks around them.  It was getting warm.  The next week was even warmer. I went up 2 days later and there were even bigger cracks in the falls and it sounded like rice crispies, snap crackle and popping.  We seem to have had the last climb of the season up Bass Crk. I am so happy I got to be a part it!