"What could be fun about walking on ice?" is what came to mind when preparing for the MAST programs second out trip of the year. But as I was putting on my spiky crampons, sturdy helmet, and secure harness at the toe of the glacier on our ascent to the summit of Boundary Peak in the Columbia Icefields, it dawned on me what the beauty of mountaineering was. As I looked around me a sense of wonder overcame my skepticism; "I am on a moving body of pre historic ice that slowly carved out these breath taking mountains around me, how cool is that?" Getting used to walking in crampons was a challenge for me because the technique requires a duck like gait wide and flat. Moreover each step must be painfully calculated to ensure a firm grip on the ice. Walking and climbing up a 60-70 degree pitch with nothing but two partners fastened on a climbing rope with prussiks confirmed the reality of my situation and elevated my heart rate rapidly. One fall from any three of us and we could have slid down the rough, icy slope. With deep breaths and an intent focus on mountaineering techniques, we sauntered our way up to a flat landing where a new challenge awaited. Leading the group, I used my ice axe to prod for crevasses (cracks in the ice that are easy to fall into), jumping over any snow covered cracks I found trying not to think about the possibility of falling in. I surprised myself by how much I liked the complexity of the rope systems and safe glacier travel, the methodical process of setting up to start an ascent in the cold mountain air and the radiating sun was centering.
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