Embrace the Cold Climate with Atlantic Climbing School

Ice climbing, ever heard of it? Compared to rock climbing, which requires finesse and flexibility, ice climbing can appear downright medieval. But Atlantic Climbing School, a company that leads rock climbing and ice climbing expeditions in Maine, is here to show us just how thrilling this cold climate activity can be.

While there are some sports where the amount of effort is, when done correctly, nearly invisible (think of a ballerina’s hard-won grace, or a swimmer’s perfectly executed butterfly stroke), ice climbing is a showy activity. It makes noise. Lots of it! As you climb the glassy blue surface of the frozen cliff face, crunching, shattering, and hacking sounds emanate from your feet and your swinging ax. It requires a good deal of gear: crampons attached to your boots, ropes to keep you tethered to an anchor at the top of the cliff, and axes to carve handholds. It's a challenging activity that requires a whole lot of focus. But you're never alone during the process. Atlantic Climbing School guides are by your side throughout the entire climb.

The Atlantic Climbing School provides all necessary gear for climbers, as well as full instruction. While the school’s summer rock climbing classes can run from four hours to eight, ice climbing is more involved, so the school only offers full-day courses. The school takes clients out on top rope tours, during which you’re strapped into a harness that is connected to a sturdy tree at the top of the slope. As you ascend, the instructor takes up the slack, so even if you slip and fall, you never plunge more than a foot or two (at most). You make your way up the ice by using the spikes on your feet (crampons) to create footholds and the ax in your hand to create handholds.

Guides take visitors to several different locations, depending on the conditions of the ice, which they scout beforehand. Sometimes, the Atlantic Climbing School goes to Camden Hills State Park to climb, where there are an abundance of ice climbs accessible to all skill levels — and where you’re surrounded by views of blue mountains and deciduous forests. Sometimes, classes go out to Acadia National Park, where climbers repel down frozen cliffs to a ledge above the ocean water, and climb back up while the waves crash below. Invigorating to say the least!

If you're like us and enjoy rock climbing, join us in giving ice climbing a try! Check out Atlantic Climbing School today and devour the details of a challenge unlike any other. Enjoy!