Ice climbing in Canada offers an adventure into frozen landscapes

A first-time ice climber recounts a 2022 ascent at Kushog Lake in Southern Ontario and describes technique, gear and regional routes; the piece also reports that warming temperatures are shortening ice-climbing seasons and that glaciers in Western Canada are melting faster than a decade ago.

The piece describes a first ice-climbing experience on a very cold morning at Kushog Lake in Southern Ontario. The writer recalls swinging ice tools, using crampons and being supported by anchors and ropes. They connect a renewed passion for climbing to trips in the Canadian Rockies and coaching from experienced climbers. The account also reports that climate change is shortening ice-climbing seasons and accelerating glacier melt in parts of Western Canada. Key details: - Location and conditions: the first climb took place at Kushog Lake in Southern Ontario during winter 2022, with temperatures reported near -24 C. - Equipment and technique: the article describes ice tools, crampons, helmets, stiff boots, screw placements and an A-frame movement for efficient climbing. - Regions named: routes and areas mentioned include the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Canmore, Kananaskis), parts of British Columbia (Kootenay National Park, Tumbler Ridge), Quebec (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, Pont Rouge, Rivière-Ste-Marguerite) and Ontario sites in the Haliburton and Madawaska highlands and northern bays. - Safety and practice: the article states that ice climbing should be done in a group and that new climbers are recommended to go with a qualified guide. - Climate context: it cites research reported by the University of Northern British Columbia that glaciers in Western Canada are melting at roughly double the rate compared with a decade earlier. Summary: The account presents ice climbing as a personal reconnection to mountaineering and a way to explore Canada’s winter landscapes while emphasizing close partnerships formed in the sport. It also highlights how warming temperatures are changing ice conditions and shortening traditional seasons for the activity. Undetermined at this time.