Introduction
“If you’re wondering whether to follow your dreams, ask your eighty-year-old self.” That piece of advice, shared by an author at a local library talk, stuck with me for years. It was the voice I heard in my head when I found myself hesitating in Patagonia, debating whether to sign up for an ice climbing expedition on Viedma Glacier. I had spent the past year traveling, taking a career break to explore the world, but nothing had prepared me for scaling sheer walls of ice. I had walked on glaciers before, but climbing one? I would never have guessed I was capable of doing that.
"In 2010, I took a solo gap year, blending intrepid travel with meaningful volunteer work. Nearly 15 years later, I’m writing a series of stories to commemorate that journey—reflecting on its challenges, adventures, and how it ignited my creativity, reshaping the way I see the world.”
Stepping Into the Unknown
My friends and I had hesitated all day before finally signing up for this unforgettable experience. While I had worn crampons and walked on a glacier before, the idea of ice climbing truly terrified me. After traveling through Patagonia following my Antarctic adventure, I had expected to slow down—but Patagonia had other plans.
The next day, I found myself staring up at the towering walls of Viedma Glacier. Argentina’s largest glacier, sits within Los Glaciares National Park, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site. Its sheer beauty alone made the challenge worthwhile.
After the guides install the climbing ropes we are given some basic instruction including a safety briefing. We don a safety harness, crash helmets and fasten our crampons over our boots. Despite my initial trepidation I reach the top, with only a few slips from which I recover quickly. Everyone is cheering and I feel elated. I had done it, and the buzz stayed with me for quite awhile.
Reaching the top of that first ice wall and striking my pickaxe on the ridge filled me with an incredible sense of accomplishment. I am instructed on how to abseil down—holding my axes free of the ice and keeping my boots flat I make my way down. I want to fly, but they let me down gently. As I abseiled back down, I felt my fear dissipate, replaced by exhilaration. Encouraged by my fellow travellers, I went on to climb several more walls.
The afternoon glacier walk, though much easier, still had its own challenges—navigating narrow ridges, deep crevices, and towering ice canyons. Before descending, we celebrated with a glass of Baileys, chilled with ice chiseled straight from the glacier.
Looking back, I know my 80-year-old self will be cheering for me.
How Ice Climbing Transformed My Photography
Access to Unique Landscapes
Jim Richardson, a National Geographic photographer, once said, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” That’s not always easy when you live in a city. My year away reminded me that to capture truly unique images, I needed to step outside my comfort zone and into places few people get to see. Ice climbing took me to a surreal, otherworldly landscape—where dramatic formations, towering ridges, and deep crevasses became subjects unlike any I had photographed before.
Understanding Light & Composition
Light is everything in photography. We have control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, but light—both its quality and colour—is the elusive factor that makes or breaks an image.
Glaciers reflect and refract light in fascinating ways, creating endless opportunities to play with exposure, contrast, and composition. The shifting light on the ice, the deep blues of the crevasses, and the stark white landscapes helped me better understand how to capture depth and texture in my shots—lessons that shape my photography today.
Capturing Motion & Action
Photographing movement in extreme environments was an interesting challenge I faced on this adventure. Whether it was a climber mid-ascent, the spray of ice from a pickaxe, or the delicate balance of navigating ridges, I had to anticipate action and adjust my settings on the fly.
Shooting in manual mode, I learned to freeze movement with a shutter speed above 1/500 sec, choosing an aperture that gave me enough depth of field, while letting auto ISO adjust for the best exposure. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take my camera on the climb itself, but a fellow traveler captured the moment I reached the top—an image that still reminds me of what’s possible when I push myself.
Pushing Creativity & Perspective
Trying something new forced me to rethink how I framed my shots. Instead of relying on standard compositions, I explored dynamic angles—shooting from below, capturing abstract ice formations, and focusing on the details that told the story.
When I started my photography journey, I often shot from a standing position, defaulting to landscape format, creating very standard images. On this journey I experimented—getting low, seeking leading lines, and embracing minimalism. This quote from Lao Tzu sums up the trip. “The longest journey begins with a single step.” The same could be said for photography—every shot is a step toward mastering the craft.
Mental Resilience & Adaptability
The physical and mental challenges of ice climbing taught me to be adaptable—an essential skill in photography. Cold temperatures, and unpredictable terrain forced me to work quickly and efficiently.
This mirrors the mindset needed in photography: staying patient, adjusting to conditions, and being ready for fleeting moments of magic. When our guides encouraged us to switch ropes and attempt a harder climb, I realized that photography, like climbing, is about constantly pushing forward—never settling for what’s comfortable.
The Reward of Perseverance
Much like photography, ice climbing requires patience, persistence, and problem-solving. The feeling of reaching the top of an ice wall mirrors that of capturing the perfect shot—it takes effort, but the results are deeply rewarding. This experience reinforced what I would continue to pursue throughout my year away: embracing challenges, seeking new perspectives, and allowing adventure to shape my creative vision. By embracing adventure, I not only gained an unforgettable life experience but also expanded my photography skills in ways I never expected.
Conclusion
When I first planned my sabbatical, I never imagined the risks I would take or the ways they would change me. I would have laughed if you told me I’d climb an ice wall. I had pushed my limits, found new perspectives and captured the wonders of Viedma Glacier.
As you embark on new adventures and dream of mountains to scale, ask your 80-year-old self what they’ll wish you had done. Imagine yourself years from now, looking back on your life. What stories will make you smile? What adventures will you wish you had chased a little more boldly?
I for one, am glad I scaled that ice wall.