Chicks with Picks!

Please forgive me -- I'm a bit late in posting these pics as the Betty Ice Ball in Ouray was the last weekend in January.  Enjoy!

More Chicks Pics!

Climbing with the Chicks group is intense but not intimidating. Our "intermediate" group, consisting of four gals, including myself, and Caroline George, our leader, started out by reviewing belays and working on basic skills the first day. Traverse drills using one ice tool as well as no tools helps to develop balance over our feet (see top photo).

Another goal in developing balance while climbing is triangulation. The climber staggers the tools, reaches high for placement, then works the feet up to a equilateral triangle stance beneath the upper tool. (See Francine doing this in 2nd from top photo.)

Third from top is a photo I took during Skills Day. We have 8 or 9 ropes set up with various tasks for the 16 participants, overseen by the guides. Kitty Calhoun videotapes us and gives us feedback. Sarah helps with one tool drills and mixed climbs. Margo is our speed climbing diva -- she times & encourages us to get to the top of the pitch. I was fortunate enough to belay Kim Reynolds on a fun, steep climb and get a great visual!

The last photo gives a little bit of an idea about the atmosphere of the canyon. It reminds me a lot of a giant Haffner Creek (up in Kootenay National Park, B.C.). The difference is that the Ice Park is in town and not an hour's drive away. You can't get much more convenient than that!

Back From Ouray!

Thanks for being so patient! Haven't had much of a chance to post anything this week. Busy schedule, no wifi, plus I woke up the morning of the 29th with a low grade fever and cough. Ugh! :-( I went over to Ouray anyway, deciding it was better to do *something* rather than hang out at home being sick. That, plus I had been looking forward to climbing with the gals for a long time! Chicks with Picks was a blast and a half. I met many nice gals and learned a lot! Thanks to Kim Reynolds (the Head Chick) as well as our lovely guides for making this past week special!

I'm feeling better but not quite well yet, so here's a few pics for you until I can get a few more of the details typed!

Chill Factor

Chill Factor

5"x5" collage/mixed media

on 90 lb. watercolor paper

Guess I have ice on the brain today, getting in the mood for climbing next week. (Is that like having an ice cream headache? Not quite!)

The climber in the yellow jacket in the piece above is actually me, a few winters ago, climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Although I am not an overly bold climber, I still enjoy the physical activity as well as the form and beauty of the ice.

Cold, Cold Kitty!

January still has a frozen grip on us here in Colorado. It's cold, cold kitty out there! An overnight below zero Fahrenheit temperature is the price we have to pay for those clear, cloudless days. Thankfully we have winter sports! And down jackets! As I am fighting the typical run-down, post-holiday tiredness, I'm looking forward to an upcoming visit to Ouray, CO, to participate in the Chicks with Picks all-women ice climbing week.

Collage is on my mind today. I was contemplating my sluggishness in picking up the paintbrush and/or pencil this week. Often, cutting and pasting something together will ignite the creativity fuse. The huge stack of postcards I have in my art box could be a starting point. Check out the interesting blog, "A Collage a Day" by Randel Plowman. Interesting concept!