Climbing Rock and Ice in Banff
Haffner Creek, Alberta
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Haffner Creek, in the Banff and Canmore area of Alberta, is a killer spot for ice and mixed climbers. It offers everything from moderate routes for beginners to intimidating, strenuous lines for the pros. This one—called Neolithic in the Caveman Cave—falls squarely into the second category.
There are several routes in the cave, all of which require crazy amounts of athleticism and body control. Lucky for photographers, the backdrop is this eye-catching winter scene with cool ice formations and deep snow.
Kyle Vassilopoulos made this wild move—swinging from only one ice axe—on his so-called “rest day” during our trip through the Canadian Rockies. To capture the image, I used an off-camera flash to bring some light and warmth to an otherwise cold and dark day.
TOOLS: Canon 5D MkII, 16-35mm, 1/80 second, f/4.5, ISO 1000
