It was a beautiful day in Kananaskis - sunny, crisp and a bit cold (-10 degC). The temperature was perfect for approaching and the road went by relatively quickly. We left the skis in the trees and headed up through the drainage, soon reaching the approach ice. A couple of short steps of ice (where Hedd-wyn broke the BD pick on his Cobra), more slogging and finally, the climb came into view - wow! It always looks like an impressive ice formation.

After eating, Hedd-wyn negotiated the steep mushrooms and wild features to a large cave on the right of the upper tube. The next pitch was as fun as always - very featured & technical but with great feet and rests, more like 5+ shape. The hollow tube of water is always neat - you can see the stream of water under your picks!

One rap and we were off. We looked at Redman Soars, but the roof to reach the ice looked tricky and we had no rock gear with us anyway. Next time I'd love to give it a go! So we ate some more, and slowly made it out... another beautiful day of climbing in Canada!

	Beautiful morning in Kananaskis. Taken from the parking lot!	More views from the parking lot	Hedd-wyn is excited to start skiing already!

	Negotiating the road block	Oops :-) Hedd-wyn's words as he was laughing: "If I fell here, how am I going to climb a grade 6 waterfall?" - Easily, is the answer	Good thing we are not going all the way to Coleman!

	Awake yet?	Having skis so we didn't have to posthole was sooo nice

	Highway 40 in the winter: no traffic :)	Highway 40 is so beautiful in winter	It was a cold day, the sunshine was nice

	I'm an expert at posing		According to Hedd-wyn, "With 1200mg Ibuprofen, you can do anything." My shoulder was bugging me a bit from a tree encounter on skis the week before.

		Staging area: switching from skis to boots	Walking through the forest after the fresh snow is neat

	Approaching through the forest		Nearing the approach ice

	Neat bedding planes	More neat bedding planes. The leftmost corner is a mixed climb.	The first approach step

	Second approach step	Don't fall here. It looked very deep :)	Climbing the approach ice

		Slogging through fresh snow	Hedd-wyn broke a pick on the approach steps, somehow!?

	Whiteman Falls comes into view! Impressive piece of ice.	Whiteman Falls	Whiteman Falls

	Neat how it pours off the amphitheatre	The right side of Whiteman Falls	Whiteman Falls, right side.

	BD picks... you better be carrying spares	2nd day out for my new tools... the novelty has not worn off	Heddwyn starting up the first pitch

	Almost at the belay cave	Funky roofs on the first pitch	Topping out on the first pitch

	The start of the 2nd pitch	Bomber belay in the cave	Looking cozy in the cave

	Preparing to launch up the crux pitch	Starting the 2nd pitch, looking down at Hedd-wyn who appears too comfy!	It was quite windy and cold at the belay the top... but I was happy to be there, trust me

	Beautiful view from the belay	Kananaskis Lakes	Hedd-wyn past the difficult climbing

			Trying to keep warm at the top

	Redman Soars, 5.10 WI 4+ - will have to do it next time		Last shot of Whiteman Falls, before we leave :)

	Hiking out through the spectacular canyon, with Kananaskis Lakes in the background	Antiball plates commercial?

	Ready to slog back to the car?	5km to go.	Are we there yet?

	The road! Yes, we're almost there!