A version of this post was originally published on the Travel Alberta website.
The sharp crampons on your feet bite into the ice with a loud crunch. Hoisting yourself up, you'll feel the triumph of heading skyward.
With ice climbing, you need to put in the sweat and rise above your nerves. But the rewards include bragging rights and being part of a growing winter subculture.
Alberta is one of the top destinations in the world for ice climbing. Introduce yourself to the sport at Nordegg, 174 kilometres west of Red Deer in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.
You'll find classic ice climbing routes along with introductory venues. A novice climber with a bit of experience can even get up famed climbs like The Weeping Wall, about 35 kilometres north of the Saskatchewan River Crossing, with the assistance of a guide. It's a great bucket list adventure.
All-inclusive adventure
Learn to climb on a two-day beginner's course with Custom Outdoor Experience. This is a sport that welcomes persistence and requires a comfort with heights, but with their guidance you'll be more than ready to tackle frozen towers of snow and ice.
C.O.E. offers a variety of courses for both novice and intermediate climbers, all of which are led by professional guides and include accommodation at Sheiling Mountain Lodge. Soaking in the lodge's outdoor hot tub surrounded by pristine wilderness is heavenly after a day of climbing. Refuelling with delicious chef-prepared meals is pretty spectacular as well.
Accessible climbing routes
Alberta is very accessible for ice climbing, given the concentration of routes that are easily available from the road. The province draws ice climbers from around the world because the Canadian Rockies lend themselves to steep, wide climbs in relatively small areas that feature a lot of different routes. You'll find that you're spoiled for choice, with more than 100 ice climbing routes in the Jasper and Banff national parks alone. Kananaskis Country, a 50-minute drive west of Calgary, is also prime territory for ice climbing.
To try the sport or improve your skills, check out C.O.E., the Calgary Outdoor Centre, and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore.
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