Ice Climbing in Wisconsin and the Midwest

Ice climbing in the Midwest is a hot commodity. Midwest ice forms in many different places in many unique and changing ways.  A day of guided ice climbing at the same location can vary drastically from day to day. Even though this sport is so weather dependent it's well worth scheduling. After all, why wouldn't you want to plan on climbing secluded frozen waterfalls.

We'll be climbing at 5 different locations throughout the Midwest this winter.  Some of the falls are 150 feet high. Call to see what area is near you.  

Prices depend on location, group size, number of days, etc. 

All climbing trips include all the ice climbing gear needed.

One Day Ice Climbing Trips for $95 per person (min. 4 people)

One Day Ice Climbing Trip for 2 people $265 total

Please call to learn about our options for groups, grants and scholarship options. 

(608) 434 - 3360

A little more about Midwest Ice Climbing...

Many people view ice climbing as a rather mysterious sport, even those who rock climb on a regular basis seem to have

a hazy grasp of what ice climbing is all about.  Ice climbing is a rather new sport and although it is growing by leaps and bounds it has yet to hit the masses. There still seems to be the myth that ice climbing is some extremely dangerous sport with "unstable conditions" and you must have a super-hero body.  That myth is no different than the one that floated around about regular rock climbing for many years.  The truth of the matter is that ice climbing is safe and can be made as easy or as difficult as you want. Movies and televisions programs are always full of the most extreme ice climbing situations.  Keep in mind how much the movie "Cliffhanger" deviates from the reality of rock climbing.  

Ice climbing can be top-roped just like rock climbing.  So the rope is anchored to the top of the cliff, waterfall, or ledge and the climber never drops more that a foot or two.  Most of the time the rope is anchored to trees and channels made through the thickest parts of the ice.  Ice chunks can fall so the belayer and group stand a ways back from the ice and wear helmets.  The climber is swinging an ice tool which looks like a pick into the ice for grip.  Since there is a chance the the rope could be hit by the ice tool the climber uses either two ropes at once or puts a protective hose over the rope at the impact zone.  The climber wears a helmet and goggles, some beginners can wear a full face shield for extra precaution until they get use to the ice tools. Crampons or "spikes" are worn on the feet to stick into the ice.  Again, protective material can be put around your lower legs until you get use to the kick and stick motions. 

Another misconception is that ice climbing requires mountains.  While mountains are nice, frozen waterfalls and the shores of the Great Lakes are just as spectacular.  In fact, the routes along the shores of Lake Superior rival as some of the top ice climbing routes in the world.  Check out some to the photos on our gallery.  In the Midwest we often say that the winter is too long, and ice climbers often complain that the season is too short.  Maybe we should all start climbing ice!

(608) 434 - 3360