Ice Climbing Her Way
to the Top
An Affinity for Ice, An Affinity for Life
“You can’t quit what you love just because you’re afraid of change.” For over a decade now, that thought has been the guiding principle for ice climber Angela VanWiemeersch. From fashion school in Detroit to the unknown world of ice climbing in Ouray, CO, if there’s anything Angela understands about life, it’s that its trajectory is ever-changing.
Purpose & Passion
When Angela decided to leave fashion school, turn off her phone, bike 1,400 miles from Michigan to Canada (solo!), and camp every night, she realized that there was more to the life she’d been living. She began feeling fulfilled by her explorations … finding a certain purpose in living outside of the confines of her own comfort, and amping up the adventure. That was nearly a decade ago. Change, paradoxically, has become quite the constant for Angela.
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“I went from classrooms and outfit mocks to ice picks and helmets. It took a leap of faith, knowing nothing of what lay on the other side. It was so worth it.”
Angela VanWiemeersch
@angela_vanwiemeersch
Angela is 5'5" & Wearing:
Rab Women's Neutrino Pro Down Jacket - Size S
Grivel Stealth Climbing Helmet - one size
Rab Baltoro Glove - Size M
Go with the Flow
Angela is the first to admit that ice climbing can be a dangerous endeavor. But she also knows that true growth can't come from within the confines of one’s comfort zone; instead, she’s motivated by what lies outside of it. Living passionately, never giving up, and pushing herself to the limit, whether in climbing or in life in general, is what keeps Angela excited about every day. She believes that no matter what you’re going through, where you’ve been, or where you’re headed, embracing the hardships that come, changing with the tide, and continuing to climb ever-upward is the way to go.
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“In ice climbing, the only way to improve your ability is to challenge yourself on new terrain. I think that same idea can be applied to life. The only way to know what else is out there is to try it.”
Finding Courage Amid Fear
Ice climbers are not fearless. In fact, a few years ago, after Angela’s partner in both life and sport passed away while ice climbing, she began to feel a great deal of fear around her beloved sport. Despite all the safety precautions, the risk remains. It’s her commitment to the uncertain, though, and the embracing of that fear, that keeps Angela climbing: for herself, for those who are still here, and those who are gone.
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“No matter what I’m climbing, the value is always on life. It’s a bold way to live, to pick into ice every day. And I think about all the things that have changed since [my partner] passed. But this is what he would have wanted. And it’s still what I want when I wake up every day.”
Melt, Flow, Freeze, Repeat
To Angela, ice climbing often feels like one big metaphor for life: the ups the downs, the flow of it all … it’s about the journey. With every challenge accepted, new place seen, and wall climbed, she’s embracing and facing it head on. Recently, Angela took on a new, different kind of challenge: homeownership (and, in a way, learning to stay put!) in California.
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“Nothing is ever certain in ice climbing. You have to look at a climb and think honestly: ‘can I do this?’ You can't assume you’ll be okay. Like life, it’s a fine balance.”
