From Frozen Plains to Cliffs of Ice
The Great Plains Section Goes Ice Climbing in Waterton
Story and photos by Jennifer Arends, for the 2025 Gazette
If there’s one thing that Saskatchewanians understand, it’s ice. The frozen, wind-swept landscapes of southern Saskatchewan present a survival (and often a spiritual) challenge for its brave inhabitants for what can feel like months without end.
In March, four intrepid Great Plains Section members climbed into a car and travelled west in search of not palm trees, but… more ice. The plan: introduce two brand-new ice climbers to the ice of beautiful Waterton National Park, climb for two days, develop new skills, and build amazing memories.
For members of the section, access to alpine pursuits can be challenging. Without mountains or cliffs on their doorstep, prairie folk have to travel further afield to find alpine adventures. The geography combined with a frequent lack of gear and nearby experts leads to a significant access challenge. But as Great Plains leader extraordinaire James Lewis explained, this just makes providing unique opportunities all the more rewarding:
“I like to share this sport with people who don’t have access to it as easily as other clubs. Climbing is a relatively small entity in Regina, so letting people know the different places it can take you is awesome.”
Despite six hours of dry fields from Moose Jaw, SK to Pincher Creek, AB, the trip delivered on its participants’ expectations. And while the surroundings, complete with what participant and first-time ice climber Mike Horvey called “beautiful scenery, big horn sheep and deer, running streams beside banks of snow, and cliffs of ice backdropped with flowing waterfalls,” were amazing, it was clearly the people who made the trip particularly special.
“I love seeing people try the sport, and I love watching them succeed,” said Lewis. “The cool thing about ice climbing is that success is measured differently for everyone, and we all share the stoke and build each other up. Over the years, I’ve learned and really believe that it is the people that make the trips, it’s the memories you make and the experiences you share that you remember. No one really cares that you singularly suffered through a white-out in 100km winds after retreating from a summit, but man does that story get entertaining when it’s you and a mate.”
The Great Plains Section looks forward to continuing to expand its winter offerings in the years to come so that more prairie folk have opportunities for adventure and have access to our treasured Canadian mountains.
Regional ACC Sections are the Alpine Club of Canada’s strength. Membership in an ACC Section enables members to participate in numerous summer and winter mountaineering, rock climbing, and skiing activities, coordinated by experienced amateur leaders in their local area. The majority of activities offered by sections are either free or are offered on a break-even basis to their members. Through ACC Section trips you’ll learn all the basics you need to travel safely in the mountains, while meeting new friends to enjoy your experiences with.
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