snakes in the red?

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 10:41 pm

Dipsi, glad to hear you are the master chef for our 8 legged friends. I look forward to my visit to the Red and I hope I don't become lunch for anyone...at least for any non-human type.

Kato - no climbing at Hopewell Cape. Yes the cliffs look appealing in pictures....but mostly just advernture groups going to rappel off. (doesn't hat sound like loads of fun???)
Climbing in New Brunswick is in Welsford. Granite, pure, not busy, trad, mixed, sport. It is a small crag (just over 300 routes) but it is quality.

you can check it out at www.geocities.com/climb_welsford

(yeah...I'm in some of those silly pictures too.)

The cliffs on the fundy coast serve their purpose though!!! ICE CLIMBING!!!!!!!! yahoo!!!!!

I don't imagine Kentucky see much of that stuff eh?

Post by **ynot** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 10:58 pm

Please take me ice climbing with you some day.

Post by **Yasmeen** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 4:52 pm

Ice climbing's pretty sweet! I got to do some at Fox Glacier in the South Island, and even though it was storming pretty badly it was fun. Definitely prefer the direct contact with the rock though.

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 11:44 am

Ynot, I would gladly take you ice climbing someday!

We ice climbed every weekend from mid November to Mid March and once in April (we had a REALLY long winter this year) We even ice climbed christmas day and new years eve. You can check some ice climbing pictures on the before mentioned website.
Ice climbing is much harder than rock climbing. You are in a different realm from the ice with the axes and crampons between you and the surface...it feels so amazing though. But...it isn't for whiners that is for sure. You can be assured that there is a long hike (several miles) through deep snow with snowshoes or skies. You are wearing about 3 or 4 layers of clothing, your feet feel like moonboots in mountaineering boots, and your pack is twice as heavy as in the summer. Your water freezes within the first 20min after you leave your car, and once you get to where you are going, you swing your arms like a mad man for hours, and spend most of your time either in one arm lock-offs, or belaying in the friggin cold while someone else is wearing your down jacket (because you are nice enough to lend it to the next coldest person). Then, it is dark by 5pm, so you hike out in the dark with a pack that is even heavier then on the way in because your rope is soaking wet from laying on the ice, and your gear is filled with snow and water.

But......I love it!!!

Post by **SikMonkey** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 12:25 pm

So basically, it's the scariest environment imaginable. That's all you had to say.

Mj

Post by **t bone** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 12:37 pm

Ice climbing is not any harder than rockclimbing, just differnt . it depends on what you are climbing. And yes i have done alot of both to compare the two. I thought this was a thread about snakes!

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 1:37 pm

oh..I find ice climbing more physically demanding than rock climbing, mostly due to the conditions. Maybe it is because I am very small that I find the extra pounds in my pack and swinging the axes and crampons a bit more tiring then placing my itty bitty feet very gracefully on edges and my hands in granite crack.

Once you have decent technique in either disapline it brings them to a similar level for difficulty.

oh...about the snakes and spyders.....There aren't any while ice climbing!!! Yahoo!

But...there are moose, and bear, and deer, and little bunnies, and birds, etc..etc...

furry animals aren't as scary!

Post by **Johnny** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 2:08 pm

Yeah, but yer skeeters up there are so big, they got fur too!

Post by **SikMonkey** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 2:11 pm

Yeah, but you have cave Caribou that try to grab you while you are swinging your ice pick and you have to try to kill them by stomping on them with your tampons!

Mj

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 2:21 pm

SikMonkey....I don't know that I have stomped on anyone with tampons...but I could likely inflict some damage with CRAMPONS.

And...those are some pretty impressive Caribou tricks you are referring to...............

yes...our mosquitos are HUGE. our bug season is from Mid May to Early July. that is blackflies all day and then Mosquitos in the evening. Right now the mosquitos are still fairly thick in the evenings.

During the 6 week bad stage, I wear a bug net on my face. Lots of days we just don't go out because you'd be breathing in mouthfuls of the little critters.