Ice Climbing is rad: it’s fundamentally simple but devilishly tricky. Not only does it engage your physical fitness, requiring you to tramp through snow uphill both ways, but it engages your mental fitness as well. Having to pay attention to what’s going on around you creates a visceral feeling of adventure and brings many skills together in one awesome climbing medium. Climbing frozen waterfalls is just so awesome – it’s the ultimate choose your own adventure, and there is something for everyone.

Participants:

• 9 people (2-3 leaders, 6-7 participants)

Climber Prerequisite:

• Familiarity with avalanche procedures (will go over a refresher outdoors prior to trip)
• Be able to bear (maybe even enjoy) the outdoors in winter
• No prior experience is needed, as we’ll be top roping.
• Perseverance and a positive attitude (there is some grunt to approach the ice climbs)

Equipment:

• Helmet
• Harness
• Rigid mountaineering boots (B2 or B3 boot) with heel/toe welts preferred. Trip leader is trying to source a rental from the UofC, so let him know if you need a pair and indicate size.
• Belay device (e.g. ATC, GriGri, Reverso)
• Crampons with vertical front points preferred*
• Ice axes x 2*
• 3 locking carabiners
• 2 double length slings (120 cm)
• 35 L or larger backpack (big enough to hold extra clothes and creature comforts)
• 2 or more pairs of gloves: a thinner more dextrous glove for climbing, and a thicker/warmer dextrous glove for belaying
• Warm belay jacket to wear while belaying single pitch
• Small, non-leaking thermos for hot drink/soup during the climbing day
• Avalanche kit (beacon/shovel/probe)*
• Your own personal clothing system to stay warm (ski pants are ok, but we’ll need to tighten up the lower calves/ankles with tape or snug gaitors)

Group Gear will be organized by trip leader with the ACC great plains gear cache.

*available to borrow from gear cache

Transport:  We’ll carpool where possible. Distance is roughly 750 km one way. We’ll sort out car logistics closer to the date.

Accommodation:  The Crandell Mountain Lodge. They have been very good to ice climbers in the past and we have received 15% discount on our bookings as long as we take at least five rooms. With current rates, it looks like it may be about $50 per night.  If we don’t luck out with everyone having a kitchenette, we can agree to make one a common kitchen. Bookings will need to be directly with the lodge. We’ll solidify the bookings in mid-February. Visit www.crandellmountainlodge.com to learn more.

Food: You are responsible for organizing your own food. Waterton is quiet during the winter, so you will need to arrive with enough food for the weekend or be prepared to eat in the restaurant every day. Most of the rooms have kitchenettes, and we’d need to specify this upon booking.

Weather: March in Waterton is still winter, but transitioning into spring. We’ll have longer daylight, and more comfortable temperatures than mid-winter. The ice is usually friendlier too: when ice is really cold, it is hard and brittle, but when it is around the 0C mark, it is “hero” ice, which makes it much easier to climb. Daytime highs average around low single digits, and overnights are below freezing….ideal for ice.

Trip Sign-up Information: If interested in the trip, please send the following sign-up information to James Lewis at james.lawrence.lewis@gmail.com.

1. First and last name
2. Phone number
3. ACC membership number (must be registered with the Great Plains Section)
4. Emergency contact information
5. Rock/ice climbing experience (the grade that you can reliably top rope and short summary if you have outdoor experience)
6. Any gear you would like to borrow (helmet, harness, etc.)

Please send any questions on the trip to James. Further trip details will be circulated once participants are confirmed.