Rock climbing not extreme enough? Want to add freezing temperatures and
slippery walls to the mix? Ice climbing is the pinnacle of extreme sports.
Scaling a vertical cliff side covered in ice with nothing but a couple axes and
a pair of crampons is not for the faint of heart. While we certainly can’t
recommend ice climbing to everyone (maybe stick to snowball fights, eh?), we do
have mad respect for those of you brave enough (and fit enough) to ascend
hundreds of feet into the sky, using a sheet of ice like a ladder. If you’re
looking for your next big challenge, here are 5 of the world’s best places to
go ice climbing.
Ouray, Colorado, USA
We’ll start with the most accessible to us Americans. Colorado, as a veritable
playground for all manner of wintertime activities, hosts one of the country’s
best ice climbing hot spots (or… cold spots?). Ouray, Colorado is sometimes referred to as the
“Switzerland of America”–and for good reason. The Ouray Ice Park is home to more than 200 climbs,
most of which are within a 15-minute walk of the park’s entrance. The climbing
season is December through March, and the annual Ouray Ice Festival takes place
every January. The festival, widely recognized as the premier event of its
kind, is a major international gathering of world-famous climbers and gear
manufacturers.
Valdez, Alaska, USA
Still in the United States but a bit harder to reach for most American climbers, Valdez, Alaska is located on the northeast side of Prince William Sound. Valdez is the site of dozens of climbing walls and frozen waterfalls. The Keystone Canyon is perhaps the area’s best-known ice-climbing site. The Canyon is loved for its quality, length and accessibility. Keystone’s most popular walls are Keystone Greensteps and Bridalveil Falls. Other climbs can be found in Mineral Creek, Solomon Gulch, Hole in the Wall Canyon, Bear Creek and Sheep Creek. There is a 17-mile wall on the north side of the highway leaving Valdez, and a 19-mile wall west of the highway.
Still in the United States but a bit harder to reach for most American climbers, Valdez, Alaska is located on the northeast side of Prince William Sound. Valdez is the site of dozens of climbing walls and frozen waterfalls. The Keystone Canyon is perhaps the area’s best-known ice-climbing site. The Canyon is loved for its quality, length and accessibility. Keystone’s most popular walls are Keystone Greensteps and Bridalveil Falls. Other climbs can be found in Mineral Creek, Solomon Gulch, Hole in the Wall Canyon, Bear Creek and Sheep Creek. There is a 17-mile wall on the north side of the highway leaving Valdez, and a 19-mile wall west of the highway.
Rjukan, Norway
The leading ice-climbing site in Northern Europe, Rjukan, Norway only
just reached notoriety within the past couple decades. Prior to the
1990s, there existed little literature on Rjukan’s ice-climbing
opportunities.The publishing of climbing guides was pivotal in bringing Rjukan
to public consciousness. Now, Rjukan is divided into 6 distinct climbing areas
with dozens of high-quality walls. Freezing Arctic winds make for a long
climbing season that ranges from late October to late March. Due to short days
and extreme weather conditions, it is recommended to avoid climbing in December
and January when possible. February and early March provide more favorable
conditions.
The Alps, Switzerland
It should come as no surprise that one of the world’s best areas for ice
climbing is the Swiss Alps. The Alps are full
of ski resorts and ice climbing walls, many of which cater heavily to tourists.
If you’re a newbie looking for expert guidance, there are a number of
ice-climbing locations where experienced climbers will teach you how to scale
frozen waterfalls up treacherous mountainsides. One of the premier
sites is Kandersteg, which is home to a number of famous routes, primarily in
in the mid to higher grades. Kandersteg hosts an annual ice climbing festival
as well as a week-long course for experiences climbers.
The Rocky Mountains, Canada
Canada is a big, big place with ample ice-climbing
opportunities. For one the most satisfying ice-climbing experiences in North America, head to the Canadian Rockies. Famous
routes include the Terminator Wall, the Weeping Wall, Ghost
River and Cascade Falls.
The Canadian Rockies offer breathtaking views of sparkling winter landscapes
and the chance to encounter moose and elk. For guided programs, visited Banff National Park
in Canmore, Alberta. Here you can participate in ice
climbing, rock climbing, hiking, backpacking and skiing
programs regardless of your level of experience.
