Date: Feb 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Category: Ice Climbing
Ice Box on Mount Arrowsmith – Beginner Ice Climbing (Top Rope Only)
Note: this trip is obviously condition dependent (the ice box needs to be “in”) and will require sufficient access vehicles on the FSR (carpooling) to be provided by participants – assessing participant interest now and date is tentative only with a reasonable chance it’ll be moved (into March) to align with appropriate weather and conditions.
Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Trip Rating: Ice Climbing (WI 2-3 / TR)
Trip Leader: Becky Noble
Contact: / 250-228-2487 (cell)
Route: Climbers’ Trail to NW Cirque – Mount Arrowsmith
Description: the Ice Box forms around 1,300m off the Climbers’ Trail to the Northwest Cirque on Arrowsmith and contains half-dozen climbs around 15m high. They can be safely top roped from tree anchors above. This is a great practice area for beginner ice climbers.
Meeting Location: Arrowsmith Main Gate
Max Group Size: Six (five other participants)
Required Experience and Gear: crampons and stiff mountaineering boots that play nicely together*, harness, helmet, belay device, ice tools/technical ice axes. Depending on numbers we can possibly share a few sets of tools. Basic rock climbing and solid belay experience required. One 60m crag rope provided. A second or third rope may be required depending on participant numbers. Gear for 2 top rope anchors will be provided.
*technical front point crampons such as the Petzl Lynx or Dart ideal and recommended but not strictly required. Lighter “3 season” boots are strongly discouraged.
Additionally, everyone must bring the 10 essentials and enough warm clothing to maintain comfort while standing still for long periods of time. Potentially snowshoes and/or microspikes for the approach.
Those with sufficient technical climbing experience, but no ice climbing experience, may attend on a very limited and individual basis – to be discussed and at the leader’s discretion. This is not an instructional course. This is a skills-building trip with the goal of networking and connecting similarly experienced and novice ice climbers in the club. Those with more experience including those interested in mentoring are welcomed.
Participants must have a valid membership and have completed the online waiver. Risks will be thoroughly discussed prior to the trip and on the day of. Ice climbing is inherently dangerous. Non-lead ice climbing is safer but does not eliminate all risks associated with the activity.
Rough Itinerary:
8:00am – meet at main gate, arrange carpooling on Pass Main FSR to the trailhead (or as close as possible per road conditions)
8:30-9:00am – drive to the Climbers’ Trail or as close as possible (at 930 meters)
9:00am – Approach hike to roughly 1,300m (approx. 380-400m gain)
10:30am – 1:30pm: set up top ropes, climb, lunch.
Hike down and get to the gate before 4:00pm closure
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