Injury means that i cant walk how do i still ice climb?

Two weeks ago—on 1/28/2025, to be exact—I took a fall on ice and severely sprained my ankle. Since then, I’ve healed a lot but still have a hard time walking. My friend from out of town is coming this weekend, and I’ve been trying to get him to visit for over six months, so I need to ice climb with him. Do you guys have any tips on how I can do that?

I competed in Youth Worlds for ice climbing last Sunday and climbed an easier route, Mighty Aphrodite (M8). I was able to put most of my weight on my arms and tightened my fruit boots super hard, so my foot was basically numb—but after I took them off, my foot hurt a lot.

Any advice would be much appreciated

(Photo of the M8 during the comp)

Maybe time to lighten the load. Do you really need TWO legs?

theres no way you are going to have your foot amputated and fit for a prosthetic crampon  by this weekend. 

Option A. AT boot with crampons. 

Option B.  Make a fruit boot out of a walking cast. 

Crutches.

Years ago I sprained by ankle when skiing. I did a big air and landed on a rock hidden under a few inches of snow. I skied down an expert run all the way down the mountain on one foot. But at the base I realized I couldn't walk and had to have my friends help me to the car.

Pop a few painkillers and push through it. It’s not like tendon healing is that complicated, right? At least you can find some comfort knowing you gave it your all on WI3, even if your ankle’s permanently wrecked and you can't walk.

Maybe the UT Ice Climbers FB group could help you there. I'm sure they've got a lot of GREAT advice for you. Just saying. 

To echo what EVERYBODY was telling you with your post in the FB group: slow down and listen to advice dude. You seem hell bent on not listening to advice from experienced people. Injuries suck but having them made long term problems by going too hard is even worse. 

If you can find some ice to climb, just encourage your buddy and be a belayer. 

I say this as someone who is still in the TR phase of my ice journey, but also as someone with wrecked knees and ankles from injuries years prior.

I’ve learned my lesson from fb my ankle feels way better and I can already walk on it a bit. I wasn’t going to lead anything just belay and take it chill 

Sam Klinger wrote:

Pop a few painkillers and push through it. It’s not like tendon healing is that complicated, right? At least you can find some comfort knowing you gave it your all on WI3, even if your ankle’s permanently wrecked and you can't walk.

On the bright side, if you push harder now you might could get your ankle fused before you go off your parent’s insurance instead of when you’re 50.

edit - to be a bit more helpful, as ive been injured many times (including ankles) and had to learn the hard way a few times.

think of a progression as something like:
walk on flat ground well -> walk on uneven trails well -> be able to balance on one foot pain free for 15 seconds -> be able to walk on a stairmaster or uphill treadmill for 30 mins -> (if swelling is gone and youre pain free ) put on a mountain boot and crampons, hike in uneven snow, and follow/belay

a good pt can help you decide when to return to activities better than the internet though. assuming you dont want to go and likely tore your atfl, you can try to work through it yourself, theres plenty of info out there. for example https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/mgh/pdf/orthopaedics/foot-ankle/pt-guidelines-for-ankle-sprain.pdf

Don’t climb softer, climb harder! M13 is just figure 4’s, no ankles required. Duh!

Climb with one foot and two good pick placements. I was rock climbing with a broken ankle (non weight bearing) in a big plastic foot brace, it worked fine. And talk to your local Adaptive Sports Ass. 

MarkDW wrote:

...UT Ice Climbers FB group...

I can't seem to find that group; just the UT Climbers group. Is that the name? Do you have a link?

FB link for the above. 

Carefully

Update went down to Ouray because Utah ice was bad. Kinda hard climbing with one leg but I had a great time and it healed since the start of the trip. Happy ending do happen here lol

Anyone know Alex's parents?

Why the fuck do are you asking that Russ. This is why I don’t post shit anymore because of people like you

Alex, come back to this thread in ten years and it will be funny, I promise.

Might take 20 years for this kid. ;)