本帖最后由 人与自然 于 2013-1-14 22:33 编辑
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260698/Climbers-edge-perilously-frozen-waterfalls-collapse-time.html
Scaling these frozen waterfalls on dangerously thin ice, this male and female climbing duo's fate is very much in their hands.
Using only ice-axes and crampons to keep them from falling them to their death, they take the notion of free climbing to the extreme.
With liquid water underneath, one moment's lack of judgement by either climber could cause the whole structure to collapse, burying them under tons of solid ice and freezing cold water.
Nerves of steel: Sam Elias makes his way up a frozen waterfall in Ouray, Colorado, using just ice axes and crampons and no safety rope to stop him falling to his death
One wrong move from death: With liquid water underneath, one moment's lack of judgement could cause the ice, which is only a few inches thick in places, to collapse
Beautiful, but deadly: Mighty ice columns like this one are created when ice on mountains melt then refreezes as it travels over cliff faces
Top climbers Sam Elias and Emily Harrington needed nerves of steel and total confidence in each other to complete a 30-minute ascent of an ice column in Vail, Colorado, without being killed in the process.
Photographer, Boone Speed, 46, from Portland in Oregon captured the eye-popping pictures.
'You don't want to make a mistake up there,' said Boone. 'The worse-case scenario is the whole column collapses and they are both killed.
'Just to climb these ice pillars at all it incredible - these are world class climbers on very difficult and dangerous routes.
Spectacular: These vertigo-inducing pictures were captured by photographer, Boone Speed, 46, from Portland in Oregon
Life in their hands: Mr Elias (above) and his climbing partner Emily Harrington need nerves of steel and total confidence in each other to complete their dangerous ascents
Pushing it to the limit: Sam Elias climbs Rigid Designator in Vail, Colorado (left), and an ice fall in Redstone, Colorado (right)
'These guys are pushing the limits to what is possible - their goal is to climb something other people can't climb.
'That's why they are sponsored to do what they do and travel all over the world to climb.
'But sometimes people push it too far the ice gets too thin. That's when accidents happen.'
Getting a grip: Emily Harrington is photographed climbing Rigid Designator in Vail, Colorado on ice that's only a few inches thick in places
Eye in the sky: A special camera is attached to the cliff (left) to enable the crews to get the most spectacular shots as Emily Harrington climbs and Sam Elias belays Clinging on for dear life: Filmaker Mike Call, whose leg is draped over a rope for stabilisation shoots North Face athlete Emily Harrington while climbing in Rifle, Colorado
Taking it to the extreme: Emily Harrington scales a rock face in Rifle, Colorado. The duo's goal is to climb something other people can't
Reaching new frontiers: Emily Harrington is just speck against this imposing cliff face in Rifle, Colorado
The mighty ice columns Sam and Emily both ascend is created by mountain ice melt, which refreezes during the winter months as it travel over cliff faces.
'Sam and Emily climb in partnership to tackle these dangerous climbs,' said Boone.
'They need total trust and knowledge of eachother's techniques to survive. Climbing doesn't get any better than this, it was a total privilege to witness first hand.'
Complete professionals: Sam and Emily are sponsored to do what they do and travel all over the world to climb
Ice queen: Emily Harrington gets her rope ready as she prepares to scale a frozen cliff face in Redstone, Colorado
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260698/Climbers-edge-perilously-frozen-waterfalls-collapse-time.html#ixzz2HxgFJF7K
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