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Sorry classic rockers this is not another ode to your all time favorite Zeppelin song.

My friend Travis is in town and looking to get his ice climbing fix.  The skiing conditions are less than ideal currently so I am psyched to do some ice climbing with Travis.  The other day we headed down to Provo Canyon to get on the classic Stairway to Heaven.

Travis on the approach early in the morning. Currently there are five pitches of ice on Stairway. The first pitch is obscured by the trees in this photo.  We hiked around the first pitch since both of us had climbed it multiple times and there were a couple of groups top-roping there.

The second pitch.

I tend to get sucked into skiing powder when it is there and last season it seemed to be there all the time.  So I had not climbed ice in over a year. The second pitch looked nice and thick so I took the lead.  I was definitely a bit rusty but made it through unscathed except for a mega pump.  Travis quickly followed and took the lead up the third pitch.

Travis starts up the third pitch.

Travis wandering up the third pitch.

I led the short but steep fourth pitch, which led up to the base of the fifth and final pitch.  The last pitch is a beautiful steep pillar.

Travis buckling up for the last pitch.

Travis in the thick of it.

A couple of rappels later we were down safely enjoying some salami and cheese.

mmm, salami!

All in all it was a super fun day in the mountains that definitely reignited my love of ice climbing, which is good because it does not look like it is going to snow anytime soon.