Staring down a hole in Sólheimajökull glacier in Iceland, strapped into a harness and hanging by a piece of rope over a 30-meter (98-foot drop), I can't help but wonder how I got into this precarious position. Given that a lot of things could go wrong while ice climbing (the rope could snap, the sharp blades of the crampons on my feet could slice through my legs), I find myself questioning my own judgment. But let's start at the beginning.

Mid-September 2023, I flew to Iceland, which lies just below the Arctic Circle between 64 and 66 degrees north. With its unique geography shaped by millennia of volcanic activity and mighty glaciers, this magnificent country is dubbed "The Land of Fire and Ice" due to its contrasting landscapes.

One of the most accessible places to try ice climbing is the Sólheimajökull glacier, which boasts of ice formations that look out of this world. Its black-and-white glacial mounds look like they belong to a landscape found in Mars, not a site located only two hours away from Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik. The black deposits are caused by volcanic ash and each layer indicates an eruption. Hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier means seeing deep crevasses, rugged ridges and sinkholes.

Our guide led us to a glacier hole where they had set up the ropes that we would use for our ice climbing activity. The situation became very real, very fast. But I try to enjoy the view as my harness is attached to the rope that serves as my lifeline and listen to the calming sounds of the nearby glacial spring.