Ice Fest Face Off

This past Friday night was the Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest Face Off, a mixed climbing competition that brings together many of the strongest climbers from throughout New England. Now in its third year, the competition is fast becoming the highlight of Ice Fest and a great showcase for local hardmen and women. This year I was excited to be photographing the event for Ice Fest, which was made extra fun because I know 90% of the competitors and organizers.

The route this year was set by my good friends Jim Ewing and Josh Hurst, two of the best climbers around. Prior to the competitors arriving, I had a chance to pre-run the men's route, and Jim and Josh set a doosey! Big moves led to a hanging log traverse and then more long reaches through a roof. If you can't work multiple figure-fours in a row you'd get shut down on this route... I know I did!

The competition kicked off following some awesome home-grown climbing films, including a ten minute short by Jim Surette of Steve House soloing Repentance and Remission on Cathedral Ledge. I knew how the story ended -- Steve lived, of course -- but while watching I was convinced we were watching his last moves on this earth. Terrifying! Anyway, the competition began with the women pulling hard and crushing plastic. Here's Allison Colwell in complete control and looking strong...


The second competitor of the evening was Janet Bergman who breached the roof and gained the high point, earning her the win...


For the men's competition there were ten or eleven "invited" competitors and a couple of "wild card" entrants. The competition kicked off with Dana Seaton (left). Dana is a strong rock climber but I don't think he had ever mixed climbed before. Here he is inverted getting ready to tackle the log. At right Peter Doucette shows off some pull-up power...


Below is one of the "wild card" competitors, an Italian climber who's name I did not catch, embarking on the first of 4-5 figure-fours needed to cross the log...


Local guides Kevin Mahoney (left) and Bayard Russell (right) made impressive efforts, making it to the end of the traverse but unable to transition onto the roof...


Vermonter Matt McCormick (left) is shown under the first roof challenge, ready to enter the steeps. Matt climbed strong across the log and transitioned onto the Ice Holdz on the lip of the roof, but he was unable to progress further, earning him second place. On the right Josh Worley also from Vermont resets on the Ice Holdz...


Josh was able to make the three more long reaches to top out on the finishing jug and take the victory. He was the only climber to complete the route.

Congratulations to all of the competitors for your impressive efforts. And special thanks to all the organizers and volunteers who make Ice Fest such a wonderful event, one that I look forward to every year!