Tempered By Fire

Date: February 5, 2026

Location: San Juan Mountains, Eureka, Colorado, USA

Team: Steven Van Sickle

Field Notes: This is a fantastic climb. Two steep pitches with bolted anchors. Descent is via two full rappels with a 70m rope.

The second pitch of Tempered By Fire

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After Second Gully, I was curious to see what Steven had planned next. He was keen on climbing Goldrush, but another party was already on it, so we continued walking up the road.

He decided we should climb Tempered by Fire — two pitches of beautifully steep ice.

As we approached, I felt that familiar edge of anxiety. The kind that shows up when you step just beyond your comfort zone — but are still in control. The space where growth lives.

The first pitch of Tempered By Fire

All of the leading I had done so far had felt solid. This season alone, I’d put in close to sixty pitches in the Ice Park, received tons of feedback and mentorship, and really focused on technique.

I feel really good on ice. I love the movement — the swing of the tools, the precision of technique, reading the ice. When I’m on ice, everything clicks. But this would be my steepest lead yet.

I looked over at Steven.

“Dude — you’ve been climbing so well. You’ve got this. There is no way I would let you lead this if I felt there was even the slightest chance you’d fall.”

That was all I needed to hear.

I looked up at the climb, visualized my moves, visualized my gear placements, identified the rests, and then set off with absolute focus.

Leading the first pitch of Tempered By Fire

Steven on the first pitch of Tempered By Fire

I love observing what happens mentally on lead. Negative thoughts enter the mind. But those thoughts aren’t you. The game is not to engage with them — it’s to stay laser-focused on the task at hand. At some point, the thoughts disappeared entirely, and I was immersed in the simple act of moving upward on a cold blue ribbon of ice.

I final cruxy move over a bulge and I arrived at the top of the pitch with a huge smile on my face. Humans grow when challenged, and in that challenge, we learn so much about ourselves. I was beyond stoked.

The second pitch of Tempered By Fire

I brought Steven up, and we swapped leads for the second pitch. Pitch two was a thick curtain of steep blue ice — absolutely beautiful. I watched the master at work, methodically picking his way upward, and soon enough he was tugging on the rope, signaling me to climb.

Two rappels later, we were back at our packs. This was some of the best ice I’ve climbed and it was made even better by great company. I will surely be back in the Eureka zone.

Happy days...