Chamonix Mont Blanc ice climbing, like a fly on the wall laughing at the physical laws of gravity

Q4, 2021

Of all sports, ice climbing is certainly one of the more adventurous sport crafts. It demands mental, motoric, tactical and technical skills. On top of, physical fitness and if at high altitude, acclimatization are essential, not to forget knowledge of the circumstances. To predict the ice conditions of an icefall can make all the difference between an enjoyable climb or a tough adventure. 
For an ice climber listening to the impact of each stroke of the ice axe is essential, as well as the feeling in the legs when the front tips of the crampons hit the ice, or the sturdiness of the ice screws when clicking in the karabiner.

This morning, before the ice climbers started, they have positioned me on a tiny ridge of a rock pillar, opposite to this ice fall, on which I should be safe and secure for a few hours during their climb. At least, that’s what they told me and what I was about to believe. Even the tripod was secured to my climbing harness. What could go wrong?

The climbers rappelled down to get to the starting point of this icefall and got out of sight. I felt alone and left behind. What would happen if they did not return, what if something would happen with them, how would I get back to the civilized world? These thoughts sneaked into my mind. But, with every minute passing by, like meditation, I started to focus on myself, sensing my body, my direct surrounding, absorbing the landscape. That is when I accepted my position, my situation, and I got connected to this unique situation and this moment.
Suddenly, the climbers appeared at the bottom of this icefall and started climbing. While watching them through my two hundred millimeter telelens, I noticed every move and got more and more involved. It felt similar to intensely observing and supporting a football match. I got into my sport-photography modus. I noticed I was encouraging them with each stroke, each click of a karabiner in an ice screw. Like I was being part of their climb.
For these pro ice climbers, this vertical arena of rock and ice is their playing ground. As if they were playing in a sandbox. They are in their strength, at their best. This is where they excel.

I started seeing ice climbing with different eyes. This is not ice climbing, this is gracefully dancing, like spiders on a wall laughing at the physical laws of gravity, making concrete hard ice look like feather soft down, making the moves look effortless like a top athlete in any other sport. That’s when I forgot being tight up on a tiny ridge.