#achillesspire

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This seems like a good way to start a new week. This is near the bottom of our descent off of #AchillesSpire. This series has been the longest day stretched out over weeks but when days are this good, you're happy to slow them down and savor the #adventure. #Banff #climbing #fujifeed #fujifilm #x100f #fujifilmglobal

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@mhfuhrer pulling ropes at the base of #AchillesSpire. There is still a long walk ahead of us to return to the car but the light will be peaking and it's all downhill from here-just have to watch for twisting ankles! I shot this in both #blackandwhite as well as color. Not sure which works better, which do you prefer? #climbing #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #fujifeed

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In the midst of the rappelling, @mhfuhrer negotiates a ridge scramble and downclimb on the descent of #AchillesSpire with Mt Hector looming across the valley. #climbing #fujifilm #x100f #weshootmirrorless

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#climbing with @mhfuhrer on the #AchillesSpire route. The ledges are comfortable and spacious leaving room for repositioning and photo opportunities. 10/10, would go again. #fujifilm #weshootmirrorless #x100f #type1diabetes #fujifeed

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@mhfuhrer checking BGs before taking on the crux pitch of #AchillesSpire. No matter where we go #type1diabetes comes with us. Adds a little challenge and occasionally some excitement. On the best days it gives you some additional tension and accountability but you keep a handle on it! #climbing #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #fujifeed

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Yet another #waterfall from #achillesspire with @mhfuhrer.

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Just below the summit on #AchillesSpire I took a bit of a wrong turn. I wound up making an "anchor" on a pile of sharp death-blocks wedged in a little squeeze. I belayed @mhfuhrer up and while I half expected a reaction of horror, he just smiled and said, "ok, right! Guess I'll give it a go!" and he cheerfully led the last few moves of the route. Despite being a little off route and mildly unnerved by the belay, I had to admit this was a great photo opportunity to capture Martin in his element, being stoked even when things are a little dicey. You can see a video interview with Martin about his photography secrets on my vlog today🎥. It's linked in my bio! #climbing #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #fujifeed #fujifilmglobal #type1diabetes

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The long walk out from #achillesSpire as the light grows more and more perfect. The afternoon presented us with much better smoke conditions for photography than the morning did. We made great time on the route so we had plenty of time to enjoy the scenes we had chosen to pass up on the approach. This was a great test for the @fujifilmx_us #x100f which doesn't get the respect it deserves as a camera for #landscape photography. @mhfuhrer #fujifeed #weshootmirrorless #fujifilmglobal

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I relish the opportunities I have to make portraits of mountains. It sounds like an odd thing but when the light is this dynamic it really brings character to the otherwise lifeless stone and choss. It's a big part of the fun of the long uphill on the way to the climb. This is the smokey saddle between Mt Hector and Mt Andromache on the way to #AchillesSpire. #weshootmirrorless #fujifeed #fuji #x100f #climbing #neverstopexploring

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@mhfuhrer #climbing on #AchillesSpire in #Banff on this beautiful day amongst the limestone spires and smoke. This is a good way to start out the week, reflecting on these moments in the mountains. These are the breaths of air that keep me from drowning in the morass of school work I've plunged headlong into. Learning how to try hard and come out the other side is probably the best skill I've gained from time spent in the mountains. #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #fujifeed #fujifilmglobal

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Near the start of the #AchillesSpire route we were fairly socked in with smoke and haze. I couldn't see much into the valley below so I took the opportunity to attempt something a bit minimal. #climbing #fujifilm #x100f #weshootmirrorless #landscape

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Lost in a sea of scree, @mhfuhrer getting closer to #AchillesSpire. We traded off leading and following each other up the slope in order to have a subject to add some context to the vastness. Between a lot of scree and a lot of haze this outing became an exercise in leapfrogging and environmental portraiture. I'd see a backdrop and run ahead (or lag behind!) and try to catch Martin walking through the shot. I think that challenges to getting the most obvious shots help us see things differently and not get lost in the scenery. #weshootmirrorless #climbing #fujifeed #fuji #x100f #neverstopexploring

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As the sunrise breaks over Mt Andromache, illuminating #AchillesSpire we continue #climbing out of the trees and onto loose scree. Looking up our mountain looks massive and intimidating. How can there be a moderate passage? Fear is what makes us turn around without engaging because the odds look too steep. From a distance it looks impossible. Only when you shoulder the pack and move tenaciously forward does the way appear. If you listen to the voices of fear which always masquerade as reason--you'll never even get to uncoil the rope. That first look at the mountain once you break out of the trees has the greatest stopping power. Absorb it, capture it and don't stop climbing. #type1diabetes #fujifilm #x100f #weshootmirrorless

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Descending #achillesspire as the afternoon light softens; Mt Hector dominates the skyline across the valley. This is a good way to start the week. Simple, strong beauty. #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #fujifeed #fujifilmglobal

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@mhfuhrer cruising on the lower pitches of #AchillesSpire in #Banff National Park. I fully expected a heavy dose of loose, chossy rock. I was pleasantly surprised by one of the best moderate #climbing routes I've ever been on; the ledges made for some really nice photographic opportunities too! #fujifilm #x100f #weshootmirrorless #neverstopexploring

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@mhfuhrer and I stopped after the first 15 minutes of hiking towards #AchillesSpire for a bit of insulin. Martin and I started #climbing together 6 years ago after meeting because of our #type1diabetes. There's something special about spending time in the mountains with someone who shares the same medical condition. We don't talk about blood sugar a lot when we are climbing. We don't have to. It's something we are aware of and it sort of disappears into the routine between the two of us. It's tempting to avoid challenges because they seem too big and because there are dire consequences for failure. I believe these are the indicators that signal something may very well be worth doing. Avoiding risk is not safety. Managing risk is the truth, ideally with a friend who totally "gets" it. #weshootmirrorless #fujifilm #x100f #hiking