Not literally. I have no idea how to milk a goat. That’s a Montana skill to be learned another day. Or never. What I did do was take another ice climbing clinic. Milking the goat refers to getting the most from your strength and endurance in order to climb more efficiently.

You might not know this (I sure didn’t before moving here), but Hyalite Canyon outside of Bozeman has over 225 pitches of naturally-forming ice. This is the most concentrated area in North America for ice climbing. This year marks the 40th year of climbing in the canyon. And it marks the 15th year of the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival. And it marks the beginning of my second season climbing as well as my second women’s clinic at the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival.

Reasons why climbing clinics are amazing:
1. You get to demo all kinds of high-end gear that you probably can’t afford on your own.
2. You get to learn from some of the top climbers in the world. Kitty Calhoun was my instructor.
3. You get to meet amazing people from around the country.
4. You learn that your body is capable of more than you ever dreamed it would be.
5. You get to hang out all day in a place that is breathtakingly gorgeous.
6. I’d list more, but let’s just let pictures tell the story.

So excited to start! Before lap 1 and before the burning arms.

Pro photo. Copyright Ari Novak.

Lap 2! More successful than lap 1.

Lap 4. Not as successful. That nonsense was hard.

Swing, kick kick. Triangle!

Not the kind of swinging I wanted to be doing…

Karen (in the gray) and Kitty (in the blue) try to unstick  a frozen rope.

In all, I did 5 laps (although I only made it to the top of 3). I got home around 4:00 with 8 hours of climbing under my belt and with muscles aching that I didn’t even know I had. So, what I’m saying is, Friday was a great day!

So, in summation, here’s my official review of the 2011 Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival:
1. Demo gear checkout- much smoother than 2010. Gear was back at the Emerson on time from the day’s clinics, we were able to get in on time at 5:00, and the staff had the process dialed in. (Or maybe they were volunteers. Whoever they were, they were great!). I loved the opportunity to try all kinds of gear that I haven’t tried before. Here is a quick round-up of what I demo’ed and my (newbie) opinion:

Me in all my demo glory.

• - La Sportive Nepal EVO GTX boots = amazing. I’ve also tried Scarpa and Kayland boots, and for me the La Sportivas are the first boots I’ve tried that have accommodated the width of my feet. I even had some extra room for a heat pack if I wanted. My feet aren’t really that wide, they’re quite average, but apparently with mountaineering socks they become wide, and the Nepals are the first and only boot I’ve tried that doesn’t squish my poor toes together. As a result, I could actually feel my feet all day. And now I own a pair of them.
• - Black Diamond mono-point Cyborg crampons = good. These felt nice and lightweight, I didn’t really notice them at all. I have only climbed in mono-points once before, but I think I like them better than a dual-points. At first, it was hard to trust only have one point, but once I overcame that mental block I appreciated having the more targeted, deeper penetrating mono-point. Apparently they’re also more flexible for mixed climbing, but I have not yet dared to venture into that world.
• - Black Diamond Viper axes = definitely not my favorite. On the plus side, the grip was comfortable in my hand, meaning it was small enough for my tiny girly hands. For me, the way the weight was distributed made the axes feel really heavy, especially as the day went on. By the top of each climb I was exhausted. I was definitely happy to try out some Grivel tools at the end of the day.
• - Rab Neutrino Endurance down jacket = super warm. The Pertex shell material felt strong and held up to a day of me tossing it around on ice, tree stumps, etc. without any escaping feathers. The double zipper is also nice for belaying, as you can just part the jacket around your belay device without having to bunch anything up or unzip your whole jacket. The Neutrino Endurance is also a longer length, which I prefer because it helps block any chilly breezes from finding their way up my back.
• - Rab Latok gloves = super sticky grippy palms, but wetted out after a few hours. To be fair, it was a wet day on the ice and for the conditions, I thought these held up very well. A word of warning, my boyfriend has the men’s version of these, and the sticky palm decals are peeling.

This is the best photo I could get of the peeling.

• - OR Extravert gloves = not as sticky as the Latoks, but still comfortable and I didn’t notice any slipping. I only climbed in them once or twice, so I can’t give much more of an opinion.

2. Travel up to Hyalite- the plow job was top notch. Probably helped by the fact that we haven’t really had much snow. But well done Hyalite plowing!
3. Check in on clinic morning- also more efficient than 2010. Free hot drinks and pastries in the morning and a very clear check-in point, as well as a volunteer who directed us to our clinic meeting areas.
4. Instruction- My clinic was led by one of the top female climbers in the country, if not the world. She was very inspiring to watch, although I think I learned a lot more from my instructors last year. This could be because I was a never-ever last year, but I think it was because in 2010 we spent a good hour to an hour and a half working on fundamentals as a group. This year we had about a 10-15 minute talk, a quick demo by the instructor, and then we were set loose. That’s not to say that I didn’t learn anything or that Kitty was neglecting the class. She was very good about calling up to us with tips while we were on the ice, and I did pick up some good tips over the course of the day, specifically about picking muscle movements to focus on and also some good stuff about reducing fatigue and neck pain while belaying.
5. Mini-clinics- We were supposed to break into a couple mini-clinics in the afternoon, but the anchor clinic never materialized. That was kind of a bummer, I’d really like to get some experience with setting up anchors.
6. Gear return- Super simple. And a volunteer was waiting for us with hot chocolate and optional peppermint schnapps. And there were more pastries. Pastries make me happy.
7. Evening events- fun and informative, as always! Great gear giveaways, engaging speakers, interesting films and slideshows.

Going up!

If you’re in Bozeman and haven’t tried ice climbing, you should attend this festival. If you’re not in Bozeman, you should visit and attend this festival. They let you demo all the gear you need, you get a full day of climbing with amazing people, and you feel so empowered that you think you can rule the world. No joke. The sense of accomplishment I get from ice climbing makes the runner’s high feel like nothing. For all of you out-of-towners, we’ve got a futon, an extra bed, and plenty of floor space. I expect to see you next December.

So, check it out:

Here are our Chicks with Picks clinic dates for 2012 – sign up or let us know if you are interested sooner rather than later to make sure you get a spot!

The Sampler
Jan. 13–16, check out the 17th

The Complete
Jan. 25–29, check out the 30th

The Quickie
Feb. 3-5, check out morning of the 5th

The Graduate
Feb. 3-6, check out the 7th

We hope to see you this winter in Ouray!

Last week we posted a Red Rock wrap-up from Dawn Glanc, who is off honeymooning and sport climbing in Spain. She wrote the recap and we linked to tons of pics our Chicks sent in. Check it all out here.

Finally, our new guest blogger Nicky Messner introduced herself as “a Hausfrau with a climbing problem.” Find out how Nicky, who started climbing mountains as a way to quit smoking, has evolved into a true alpinist. She’s also got an expedition to Kilimanjaro next year you can learn the details of here.

Oops, one last thing. We checked in with one of our Chicks alumna who is walking the length of South America this year with two of her girlfriends. Trinity Ludwig is a Chicks with Picks alumna who we will not be seeing back this year – but only because she’s got a ways to go! Follow along with their badass expedition here.

All of the other articles we linked to this past week through either the Chicks Climbing Twitter account, or on the Chicks Climbing Facebook fan page (and some on both!). We provide this wrap-up because we come across a TON of great resources each week, but understand that not everyone is online all the time, or even on both (or either) of these social media platforms. So you can check here each and every week for the latest and greatest in Chicks Climbing resources.

However, we know WE may have also missed some cool stuff this week, so if there is something of interest we missed that you came across this week please, let us know so we can share with everyone else!

Climbing
- The ice climbing season has officially kicked off in the Northeast! http://bit.ly/vbq1Vr
- Vertical Girl’s (@VerticalGirl) Mercedes Pollmeier sends the V7 Frisco Buttress http://bit.ly/s3kPPg
- Training pays off! Alli Rainey redpoints Pushing Up Daisies (5.13c) & Kaleidoscope (5.13c) at the Red: http://bit.ly/tSNlpx
- Any Chicks out there climb with leashes? Find out what ice climbing guru Will Gadd (@GilWad) thinks about using them  http://bit.ly/sWOlfF
- Did you know there was such an age gap between Honnold & Florine who are now only 45 seconds off the El Cap record: http://bit.ly/tOUOfK
- Great post from Kelly Cordes up at Patagonia about the Caldwell family & Tommy’s attempt on the Dawn Wall. http://bit.ly/uYi2Ps
- One of the desert’s hardest cracks finally sees an FA: http://bit.ly/vIUuEF
- What is on your climbing bucket list? Will Gadd shares his ice climb ticklist with NatGeo:  http://on.natgeo.com/uJGMKC
- Rope management on multi-pitch climbing: http://bit.ly/tMT11k
- Oh, hey, did you know? Here’s how not to die (common climbing mistakes): http://bit.ly/sqahPX
- Thoughtful post from Sarah (@cdnrockiesgirl) on expectations, pushing yourself & staying happy while climbing: http://bit.ly/rsRgxV
- Managing your fear while climbing by Steph Davis: http://bit.ly/t5xaeH
- Love the story of Andy Ryan’s (@aframe) son finding his “sport” in climbing: http://bit.ly/snZ12o
- Will Gadd is “Not Quite Normal” … just as the article title states. Was there any question?  http://fb.me/1lvsbsfTM
- 211 reasons to wear a climbing helmet http://goo.gl/fb/W2Hmh
- Katie Levy (@AdvInspired) reviewed “Two Shadows” and interviewed authors @WingerBooks - check it out & enter to win a copy! bit.ly/vX3SlU
- Can a climbing fanatic and a casual climber have a healthy relationship? http://bit.ly/t1fWI1

News
- Adidas to buy 5.10 for $25 million: http://climbingnarc.com/2011/11/adidas-group-buys-five-ten-for-25-million/
- Just launched the new website for Ouray Ice Park. Let them know what you think. http://bit.ly/dNhabZ
- There’s a new climbing gym in Minneapolis, which Elizabeth (@eliz_rocks) already loves:  http://bit.ly/vU2slN

Training & Nutrition
- How can acupuncture help you stay active & healthy?! You’d be surprised! New at MountainDiva.net: http://bit.ly/tspsE7

Inspiration
- Lovely and empowering new post from Tali (@Cupcakemafia) “Reflections on Loneliness”:  http://bit.ly/rpKYVM
- The Gold Coast has to be the most gorgeous wall at the Red — even butt shots look amazing! (via Alli Rainey) http://bit.ly/rKEbr1
- Vertical Girl’s (@VerticalGirl) Nina Williams on ‘Resident Evil’ V10 – Joes Valley, UT. Photo by Beau Kahler  on.fb.me/rtdmsl

Trip Reports
- Trip report from Shelf Road where Whitney (@whitneyio) was prepping for some Thailand climbing  http://bit.ly/vePrVd
- Don’t tell anyone, but Caroline George says the awesomeness of Salt Lake City living is a well-kept secret: http://bit.ly/tqDeiT

Fun Stuff (& Halloween leftovers)
- Haunted Hut in Ecuador? Yes, indeed! http://bit.ly/sdTh0E
- Last week’s Field Notes was about outdoor sports costumes:  http://ow.ly/7egib
- Steph Davis’ (@highsteph) little Cajun turned one, sent the Tombstone, and is rewarded with a Clif bar!  bit.ly/ruBUav

If you have a blog entry that you think would be of interest to the women of Chicks Climbing please let us know! We love getting contributed content from other women – anything from trip reports, nutrition and training tips, to videos. We want to share your resources with the community – much like we do with the Gossip Report and are more than happy to re-publish and share links on behalf of the women’s climbing community!

This week’s Gossip Report is brought to you by our sponsors at Columbia Sportswear!

P.S. Sorry about all the commotion behind Kitty! Don’t let that distract you from her explanation of what constitutes a good FIT.

Monday January 25, 7:00 PM
Live Auction & Slide show
Ouray Community Center $5
New Belgium will be there pouring beer. Bring your ID!

Presenter: Chicks Guide Caroline George Presents:

ICEFALL BROOKE: a journey into the Canadian wilderness with four women putting up new routes in the unexplored Icefall Brooke canyon.

In March 2006, Caroline George flew into the remote Icefall Brooke Cirque with fellow ice climber-esses Ines Papert, Audrey Gariepy and Jen Olsen and photographer Jon Walsh. Throughout the ten days spent in this pristine valley 90kms north of Golden, BC, the team put up 10 new routes, all rated between WI5 and M12! Each day, they would set out to climb line after line of hard ice, only to return late at night to the comfort of their winter shelter. Ever wondered what could motivate a team of girls to go rough it in the heart of the cold winter? What is the point in doing first ascents? Come and find out!

THE BETTY ICE BALL – a woman’s festival of ice

The public is welcome!

Friday January 29, 7:00 PM

Live Auction & Slide show

Ouray Community Center $5

New Belgium will be there pouring beer. Bring your ID!

Presenter: Zoe Hart
STORIES OF AN ALPINE PRINCESS

Experience the stories of an Alpine Princess through the eyes of professional climber and Patagonia ambassador, Zoe Hart. She will take us on a photographic odyssey across the globe going from one storied alpine climb to another, often in the harshest of conditions, through the most colorful of cultures and landscapes.

Based in Chamonix, France, Zoe Hart takes advantage of conditions as they present themselves – ski mountaineering, alpine climbing, or rock climbing – when she’s not working as a mountain guide. Zoe is labeled as a perpetual transient – she hasn’t lived in the same place for more than three months over the past eight years – finding the call to travel and explore the mountains of the world too alluring to stand still. Hart is also the fourth American woman to earn her IFMGA, or International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, status. This is the highest level of credential available to a professional mountain guide anywhere in the world and is recognized in over 20 IFMGA member countries.

Saturday, January 30, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Love Your Chicks Garage Sale
Ouray Community Center

Bring your used outdoor gear to sell and donate (at least) 50% of your profits to Chicks with Picks. Make a little money and support the Chicks. Open to the public and everyone who wants to empty their closets and support a local organization.  If you need more details call 626-4424.

Saturday, January 30, 8:00 PM
Ouray Community Center $10

Dance to live music…To Be  Announced in next weeks paper. Stay tuned.
New Belgium will be there pouring beer. Bring your ID!

Just clickety-click-click here.

We have officially launched our new women’s rock climbing program appropriately named Chicks Rock!

All Chicks are welcome as we are offering beginning to advanced clinics. We even have different packages you can sign up for.  You can come and climb with us in the daytime only or join us for dinners, slide show and camping. You choose.
Register Now!

2009 Dates:
Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin
September 7-10: Full or Daytime Package available

Red Rocks, Nevada
Option 1: October 1-4:
3-Day Weekend, Full or Daytime Package available
Option 2: October 1-5: 3-Day Weekend Plus Multi Pitch Day, Full or Daytime

What is CHICKS CLIMBING?
It’s our  new Social Networking group that combines Chicks with Picks and Chicks Rock as the go-to place for women’s climbing!  Interacting & networking over the internet is the sign of the times!
We have created three great opportunities for like- minded women to connect, have conversations and discuss hot topics about women & women climbers.

Chicks Climbing Facebook Group
Chicks Climbing Blog
Chicks Climbing Twitter

"Happy Home" Kathmandu NepalMedia:

MEDIA:

This month Kim got great exposure with an interview on Everest Mind Camp a web site founded with a simple yet powerful mission in mind: To inspire people to take conscious and empowered action to achieve their personal and professional goals. Check it out

Everest Mind Camp: Go to Guests and then Previous Guests to read the interview with Kim

Women's Adventure Retreats

MIND OVER MOUNTAINS: Thought Provoking Retreats

Don’t forget our Women’s Adventure Retreats, combining yoga, workshops, outdoor activities, spa treatments, Life Coaching and lovely accommodations! Sign up for these transformational retreats soon, as they start in July!

Passion and Potential
Location: Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa, Ridgway, Colorado
Dates: July 16 – 20, 2009
Difficulty: High Aerobic
Min/Max group size: 4/12
Price: $2250 – all inclusive

Circling Back to Simplicity
Location: The Nature Place, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dates: August 23- 28, 2009
Difficulty: Moderate Aerobic
Min/Max group size: 4/12
Price: $1550 – all inclusive

Nothing is Constant But Change
Location: Colorado Chatauqua, Boulder, Colorado
Dates: September 17- 21, 2009
Difficulty: Low Aerobic
Min/Max group size: 4/12
Price: $1550 – all inclusive