“Ice climbing helped me realize what I’m capable of”

When I was 25, some friends invited me to go rock climbing near Guelph. I ran and swam, but I was also a city girl who spent most of her time singing karaoke and going clubbing. I wasn’t sure if I was up for something as challenging as rock climbing, but I decided to give it a try.

Our instructor, a fit guy in his mid-20s, had these incredible stories about hard-core backpacking trips, ziplining and rappelling across the globe. It was like being told about this whole other world I’d never visited. That first climb was equal parts terrifying—I was scared to look down—and exhilarating. Over the next few months, my friends and I kept climbing, then started joining in on some of the instructor’s adventures. In winter, that meant ice climbing.

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Climbing a frozen waterfall isn’t something I’d ever considered. I was scared, but after going through the safety procedures like checking (and double checking) my harness, I realized I was more daunted by my ­self-doubt than by the climb itself. If I could overcome my negative inner voice, I could scale the waterfall.

We set out early one morning for Tiffany Falls, a little less than an hour’s drive from Toronto. From the parking lot, it’s just a 15-minute hike to the falls, but I was carrying more equipment than I was used to, including a helmet, harnesses, ropes, carabiners, crampons and two axes. When we got to the falls, I immediately forgot about how tired I was. They were massive, maybe 70 feet tall. I’m a tiny person, about five-foot-two, and all I could think was how beautiful and big they looked.

Once I’d convinced myself not to freak out, I realized I was going to get to carve my own path up the cliff. As a small woman, I felt empowered pounding my axes into the ice and hauling my body upward. Don’t get me wrong—I was worried the entire time, but it was invigorating to discover what I was capable of.

I’ve ice climbed at least once a year since, more than 20 times total. I’m not a thrill seeker by nature, but when you’re able to do something that’s physically extreme, it can make day-to-day challenges seem less frightening. That’s a message I try to pass along to other people through my company, One Axe Pursuits, which offers various recreational team-building activities. It’s amazing how taking on new adventures can transform people’s lives.