Ontario Ice climbing in Batchawana Bay

Batchawana Bay is a small bay on the eastern shore of the great Lake Superior in Ontario, approximately 50km from the city, Sault Ste. Marie. Although rock climbing in this area is popular all year round, it's when the water around the lake freezes in the winter months that things really get moving for ice climbers.

Almost 20 years ago, ice climbers in the Midwest states began annual pilgrimages in search of early season ice climbs along the shore of Lake Superior, from Pigeon River at the Minnesota border, east to Sault Ste. Maire, Ontario and Michigan. They found some of the best ice climbing conditions in the world, with over 300 frozen monoliths for keen ice-enthusiasts to scale. There are places to climb all around the lake, in each of the three U.S. bordering states, and especially the neighbouring Canadian province.

In the last ten years, the Batchawana Bay/Montreal River/Agawa areas have become increasingly popular among ice climbers, with hundreds of new climbs discovered, including “StratosFear”, the highest ice climb in the Midwest. This climb towers at over 260m high. This awesome ice route is four pitches in length and is a challenge for even the most experienced climbers, taking up to four hours to conquer. The Cerro-De-Hielo (Mountain of Ice) on the Carp River Road at Batchawana is another part of this area receiving considerable attention in recent years. Here you'll find several individual climbing areas, including the Transverse Mercator wall and the ambiguously named 'Wall of Deception'. This wall boasts two excellent climbs - 'Jacob's Ladder' at 30m, and 'Vertigo Ventana', a grade four series of blue pillars and curtains at 30m high. 'The Wall of Sinn', and 'Wall of Sorrow' also promise a minimum of 25 climbs for the seriously adventurous.

With local guidebook 'Ice Climbs of the Batchawana- Montreal River Harbour Areas' now in its fourth edition, it's clear that this is fast becoming the most reputable destination for ice climbers in the Midwest, throughout North America, and across Ontario and Canada. The height and stunning aesthetic view of the climbs on the east coast of the lake, combined with the adrenalin rush of scaling an unpredictable frozen waterfall, makes this the perfect location for thrill-seekers and nature-lovers alike.

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