Grotto Falls II

Grotto Falls II – December 28, 2007

Fall height: 55 m
Grade: WI3

Ice climbing with Mark, Tony, and Josh.

Who would even think about doing their first ice climb at age 65?.......Tony Blacker….that’s who!

Tony is Mark’s father-in-law and Josh is Tony’s son. Given our relative inexperience on waterfall ice, Grotto Falls seemed like a good choice to take Tony and Josh up. I had completed the route in February of this year with Kevin, Raff, and Jason and it was very straightforward with bolted belay stations.

We left the parking lot before sunrise in the hope of completing the climb before the crowds arrived. With a group of four, we were bound to be slow. The hike up fascinating Grotto Canyon was almost as much a treat as the actual climb.

I led the first pitch. The condition of the ice was quite different than that of February’s climb. There was lots of running water beneath the ice and the route was not “hooked out”. It definitely felt closer to its WI3 grading in “Waterfall Ice” than on my previous ascent.

I set up an anchor atop the first ledge and then it was time to put the senior citizen on belay to see how a fared. He fared amazingly well and was up to the first station in no time. I’m sure no one would have guessed this man was eligible to collect an old age pension! Josh followed, making very short work of it and then Mark brought the remainder of the equipment up with him.

Mark led the second pitch and soon we were all at the top – cold, but in good spirits. Excellent efforts on Tony’s and Josh’s part in completing their first ice climb.

And then there’s the rappel. It’s always hard to judge how someone will react to leaning back into their first rappel. I remember my first rappel and it was not a thing of beauty. I have to give the Blacker clan credit – each one (Keri, Josh, and now Tony) executed their first one as though it was their hundredth. In fact, Tony “express-rapped” the bottom pitch faster than any of us. The day ended with a satisfying beer at The Drake.

We were all very, very impressed with Tony’s accomplishment. I’m pretty sure that when I’m 65 years old, my only contact with ice will be the two cubes I've dropped into my double scotch-on-the-rocks!