It was 13 years ago today that I was first introduced to ice climbing at the @michiganicefest. It’s fun to look back at how goobery that first climbing day was with my tools upside down on my pack and terrible technique. 😆 Little did I know that it would become one of my favorite sports and so important to my career. It’s been a great journey!

A person climbs a steep ice wall using ice axes and crampons secured with ropes surrounded by a snowy environment. Text reads 2013. A red and orange backpack leans against a snowy surface holding ice axes and a blue water bottle attached on one side. Marmot and Drakon 45 are visible. A person stands in the snow wearing an orange hooded jacket crampons and a backpack. Surrounding them are snow-covered trees creating a wintery forest scene. A person wearing an orange helmet labeled Petzl and green winter clothing stands in a snowy environment surrounded by leafless trees. Snowflakes are visible on their clothes and the background. A person climbs a steep ice wall using ice axes in a snowy mountain landscape with visible conifer trees and distant mountains. Text 2026 is in the lower right corner.