![]() ![]() We didn't even use leashes on the axes for the same reason. Our concern was that we would be dragged underwater and drowned if we used ice screws. ![]() We also didn't trust being connected to the berg by rope of any type. We couldn't trust just jumping off the berg because much of the mass was spread out far just below the surface. Our second iceberg had steep sides with an easy down climb. Concave ice is seven times stronger than convex, an important fact for climbing ice under extreme conditions such as on an iceberg. Our concern was that the ice was under so much pressure that the convex areas would explode. Were also careful to swing for concave areas of the iceberg. We had the benefit of only needing a single swing for a good stick but it was solid enough to take our body weight, which was necessary for us to throw our bodies onto the ice from the boat. Usually, sun-baked ice is not very solid, however on this iceberg our axes were very solid. Clear ice lacks air bubbles and tends to fracture in a phenomenon called "dinner plating." This allows the ice to expand a little to absorb the force of the ax and not fragment off. Typically an ice climber wants to aim for whiter ice because of the air bubbles. This refers to the way the sun softens the ice and produces more air bubbles in the ice, giving it a white color. I jumped out of the boat kicking my front points into the ice and climbed as fast as I could to clear the boat in case it came crashing back into the iceberg. I then threw my left axe in and now had two solid axes in the iceberg. As soon as the boat came into the iceberg once more I timed my swing and it caught solidly. Hesitation and fear was not what was needed to mount this iceberg. I realized that what I had to do was to fully commit and quit worrying about how dangerous this all seemed. If the stick was not solid enough for me to hold my body but enough to pull me in between the boat and the iceberg I had a problem. After we had a talk about the chances we were taking, he finally said, "Everyone has a right to take their own risk."īesides the incredible difficulty in standing during the swells, getting a solid stick with my ax into the iceberg required perfect timing. This was the same fisherman who warned me minutes earlier that I would probably die. I thought that this must be some kind of a bad dream, but right then one of the fishermen, Godfrey, came around the corner in a small fishing boat. When Shane put his jet ski in the water and I boarded, it began to sink. He was amenable to the idea but he wanted to take us out himself. When it became apparent that we were not going to be able to fix our jet ski, they recommended that we talk with Shane, the village daredevil, who owned three of his own.įellow teammate Don Wargowsky talked with Shane about using one of his jet skis. A crowd of curious fishermen began to gather around to watch us try to fix it and suggest ideas. However, rocks got into our propeller due to the deep sand and shells that made up the shoreline. Tides also affect the swells that one must navigate to approach and board an iceberg.ĭuring our first climbing day we put the jet ski in the water to taxi out to our first iceberg. When high tide returns the iceberg begins to float again causing it to shift or roll to regain a new center of gravity. The weight of the iceberg crushes the lower ice as it settles. When tides go out the iceberg may hit the bottom of the bay. Another factor is the changing of the low and high tides. This can occur from melting in warm saltwater or when the submerged iceberg strikes the ground, breaking off a large chunk. To demonstrate this point, look at how much of your ice cube is above the water in your next drink.Īn iceberg rolls when its center of gravity changes. Not only does this present a problem in evaluating the ice, this hidden mass could capsize a boat during the roll. ![]() Ninety percent of an icebergs mass is underwater. These are only guidelines, however, because the most significant cause for an iceberg rolling is the ice under water. These shapes give us clues as to which ones we should consider and which ones we should approach with extreme caution. Then there are "domes," whose shape comes from the fact that they have rolled over, and "wedges," which resemble a door wedge and are among the most unstable. "Pinnacle" icebergs are the classical shape that most people think about when they imagine icebergs. But there was only one nearby and the swells were nearly 20 feet high. Our original intention was to climb only "tabular" iceberg, which is one who's base is four times wider than it's height. "Dry dock" refers to the type of iceberg and not to whether it is grounded. We climbed two icebergs total first a "blocky" which is the shape of a cube and then a "dry dock," which resembles a dry dock for boats. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |