Sarah Hueniken’s Huge Linkup

Sarah Hueniken went for one of the biggest linkups of ice/mixed routes in the Rockies in recent years. She said, “I attempted a long-time dream goal of mine, to link up Nophobia, a five-pitch M10+ WI3 with the six-pitch Cryophobia M8 WI5+ and the four-pitch Hydrophobia WI5+ in a day. It felt unrealistic with the two-hour drive, two-hour ski approach and short daylight hours in January, but one thing I’ve learned this past year is that nothing is impossible with the help of good friends.” She led Cryophobia and Nophobia clean in 11 pitches. “I was a pitch from the top of Hydrophobia when a big water dam broke. Despite it being on the other side of the climb, I didn’t feel that the goal was worth the risk, so the linkup still awaits a full ascent.”