A Peek Into the World of Ice Climbing
Ice climbing is a sport for the tenacious. It takes specialized equipment, a slew of mountaineering skills and a strong sense of balance. But, according to alpinist Dan Alvarado, it’s a sport any dedicated adventurer could quickly adapt to.
“When I first started climbing, it was really cathartic to swing that axe into the ice,” says Alvarado. “But over time, the technique develops from the motion of swinging a hammer to the movement of putting a coat hanger on the rack. That’s when you can really start to scale.”
If you want to go searching for your own frozen rock wall to climb (at your own risk) Alvarado suggests looking for the “beautiful blue ice,” which consists of compact and safer ice structures. There’s a saying, “thick and blue, tried and true; white and crispy, way too risky,” to help climbers remember what to look for.
Otherwise, you can visit Alvarado in the western Wisconsin town of Wyalusing, where he opens his frozen quarry to the public. Alternative spots include Governor Dodge State Park and Starved Rock State Park in north-central Illinois.
