The Wyoming Ice Festival was the BESTIVAL – thanks, Aaron Mulkey (aka @coldfear)!
Friends, if you love ice climbing, Wyoming Ice Festival is a great grassroots community event. Cody and the South Fork of the Shoshone River is such a unique, tight-knit kind of place, where frozen waterfalls in the mountains seem as common as the cattle that dot the vast valley plains between. It is such a beautiful spot to celebrate the sport with your tribe.
There were tons of cool clinics to enjoy, and I was invited to speak to a wonderfully enthusiastic crowd, followed by a special screening of “Soundscape”, my latest award-winning short documentary directed by my longtime climbing partner Timmy O’Neill.
I also got to sit in the audience and hear from other amazing athletes, like veteran alpinist Christian Beckwith who hosts the Ninety Pound Rucksack podcast about the US Army’s legendary 10th Mountain Division, and climber and author Mark Twight, a prolific figure who’s been putting up first ascents on 8000m peaks and all around the world since the 80s!
Aaron and his team deserve a BIG round of applause. It was obvious how much hard work, planning, and heart they put into organizing and hosting this inclusive, informative, and fun festival. Aaron is also in the middle of writing a guide book about climbing in the Cody area and he was clearly excited to share his experience and love of ice climbing with everyone who attended. I had a blast.
… And I have to throw in some personal props to my partner Heather, too, who bravely roped up for her first multi-pitch ice climbs ever! As you may know, or can imagine, it’s different to watch from the ground than it is to swing your tools and test your comfort level as you climb higher on a slick, ephemeral surface. She was great and our guide Allie Oaks was helpful the whole way.
