Clinging on for dear life: Climber tackles 100ft pillar of ice known as the Fang



Axe climbing a 100ft pillar of ice called the Fang is enough to make anyone's blood run cold.

Hacking their way up frozen waterfalls and narrowly avoiding avalanches, these climbers tackle one of the most picturesque venues in Park County, Colorado.

Using axes and crampons to hang on for dear life, these daredevils are pictured scaling the Ice Palace and the Fang in the climber's playground of Vail, Colorado.

Pillar of ice: Sam Elias hauls himself up the Fang in Vail, Colorado, using ice axes and crampons

Don't look down: The daredevil scales the Ice Palace - a section of ice that rarely forms in Fairplay, Colorado

Sam Elias, 28, a professional climber from Boulder, was so in love with the world famous Fang ice pillar he spent a day hauling photographic equipment up into the Rocky Mountains before ice climbing for just 25 minutes - just so the moment could be recorded.

The notorious ice waterfall collapsed two years ago - seriously injuring a climber who was scaling it at the time and fell the equivalent of ten floors.

Photographer friend, Keith Ladzinski, 35, joined Mr Elias to capture his attempt at scaling the pillar.

He said: 'It's an almost dead vertical 100ft-tall Roman column made from ice.

'Not only is it world class because of its looks, and therefore gorgeous to look at - but it's a great climb that attracts people from all over the world to test their skill.'

Ice cool: These two climbers are suspended on ropes as they haul themselves up the slippery ice in Colorado



Professionals: Matt Lloyd scales the Rigid Designator ice pillar in Fairplay, with his climbing buddy at the bottom

Steep: Chris Alstrin uses his axes to pull himself up the last part of an ice pillar in Ouray, Colorado

The pair hauled 22 lights and eight stands up into the mountains to make sure they got the perfect shots.

Mr Ladzinski added: 'That day it took some serious effort because I had to light up the column with strobes to get the perfect shot.

'Sam is a real pro and he is just as at home with his ice axes and he is with his hands and feet.