I hadn't heard about Ralph. Ice climbing, in same aspects, can be safer done solo, but the risk is still extreme. I personally hate water ice climbing- the protection is shit, the ice is unpredictable, its cold, wet, dangerous, and A LOT of work. A month ago I was ice climbing near Copper Mountain ski resort in a place called Officer's Gulch where slide danger is extreme and I was hit by an avalanche. I was lucky to survive, especially since I didn't even have a bruise or scratch. On the other hand, alpine ice climbing is fantastic. I'm going to Canada this July to climb some of the classic north faces. The ice has been there since the last ice age, it doesn't change, its solid, and it isn't steep (50 degrees). Objective hazard can be extreme, but I'm not doing any "dangerous" routes. And you're right, it costs $1,000's.