A panoramic view from behind the falls at LaSalle Canyon, Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.

A pair of ice climbers and I shared a bit of trail time. In fact, one climber provides a nice compositional edge or “bookend” in this picture. While observing the pair move and interact around the falls, a few things became apparent.

You could probably tell the climbers apart from other folks even without their gear. They are more confident and relaxed than the other folks. Relaxed but intentional. The confidence… that comes from intention — a result of making decisions…. making many decisions. They are assessing each move they make — each step and destination — without really thinking about it – a sort of a passive climbing mode, if you will.

They were intentional about every place they moved and how they got there all around the falls. After all, that is what their hobby consists of — making continuous sets of decisions — involving one or two or more steps ahead, solving a problem or many little problems to complete their climb. It sharpens the mind. I miss climbing and crave that engagement— it uses a similar set of skills for different sets of problems in mountain biking (though I’m of a mind bikers are a bit more haphazard… probably a result of speed in the equation) I wondered if they realized the difference between themselves and the others at the falls.

The others were a little more timid and unknowing. They were, without doubt, enjoying the environment, but not like they were at home or in their element or visiting a familiar friend. It was more like folks who’ve visited the White House, but never lived there. The two groups were experiencing the falls on totally different levels. It was fascinating to watch.

Oh yeah, and then there was me…taking in the whole scene. I was not totally uninvolved. I did talk to and joke some with the climbers at the falls and as we shared the trail to the next canyon, where they found their kind, climbing a pair of ice falls. I took more pictures while watching the climbing kin interact.