Ice Climbing Alaska
In this article, Golden Mountain Guide Pat Schamlix talks about the wonder that is ice climbing in Alaska. Looking for beta? Read more to learn about the adventure waiting for you up North.
- Maddog
- TJ Swann
- Ripple
When most people think of ice climbing in Alaska their thoughts are immediately drawn to the world-class climbing in the Alaska Range or Valdez area and for good reason. Both of these areas draw world-class athletes putting up test pieces most people couldn’t fathom climbing. But what most people don’t know is that within a two-hour drive of Anchorage, there are over 100 routes, many are within reason for the beginner or intermediate ice climber.
There is a reason I told my wife I’d like to live in southwest Colorado, Montana, or Alaska when I retired. I was lucky enough to visit and climb in these areas along with many others, but I think I hit the jackpot with living in Alaska! If I don’t get 40+ days climbing ice a season I get quite upset. Generally, there is climbable ice around Thanksgiving all the way until mid-April (I have climbed before Halloween and in May before), but the prime season is mid-January until mid-March.
Isn't it dark all the time?
I’d say the two biggest questions I get about ice climbing in Alaska are “isn’t it dark all the time” and “how cold is it”. The answer to the first one is “NO, not in the Anchorage area”. Yes, Alaska is quite north and does have long nights but on December 21st (the shortest day of the year) the sun rises around 10:15 in the morning and sets about 3:45 in the afternoon making for about 5½ hours. Use civil twilight and you gain about an hour on each side, making for about 7 hours of “usable light”. Granted, this is the shortest day of the year also. That is why I mentioned “Prime season” above. Jump to mid/late February and you’re looking at 10 hours between sunrise and sunset. The answer to the second question is “it can be”. Just like everywhere else, the temperatures fluctuate throughout the winter, so it really does matter on the location of the climb and the current weather. Winter temperatures can range from -20 F up to 45 F depending on the weather patterns. Climbing when temperatures are below about -5 is more work than fun, both because it’s hard to stay warm (keep your fingers working) and because the ice gets very hard and brittle.
Access
Our approaches in Alaska are MUCH different than those in Colorado and elsewhere. Most of the climbs are approached via hiking/skiing/snow machining up frozen rivers. We basically walk the river to the base of the climb and start from there. Some climbs do however start 100 feet or so above the river, but no long hour-long uphill slogs. Most people that have visited to climb are just flabbergasted at the simple access to amazing ice in the area. If the temps are favorable and traffic wasn’t an issue you could literally belay out of your car for some climbs.
There are also much fewer climbers than in Colorado, especially in the Front Range or Ouray areas. When I go into one of the climbing areas on a weekday I consider seeing another party or two to be busy. If I see more than that I’m bummed that it’s so crowded. However, weekends are a different story.
Eklutna River
Maddog
The Eklutna River area is one of the most popular spots near Anchorage. It’s approximately 35 minutes east of downtown Anchorage at an Alaska State Park trailhead (parking fee required). If the river is safe to walk on, drop down from the parking area and then hike the river to the climbs. In good conditions, it’s about a 25-minute pleasant stroll up the river to the majority of the climbs. If the river is impassable right from the parking area we hike a well-used trail (micro-spikes can be beneficial) for about 10 minutes or so then drop down into the canyon crossing a creek above the confluence then joining the Eklutna River again.
If access is good and you drop down from the parking lot the first climb you will see (about 5 minutes) will be Maddog (WI3/4). This is probably one of the most abused climbs in the state because the top is easily accessible for setting up a top rope. The water supply also usually freezes up in late January, so it doesn’t get to heal itself like other climbs do. Many in the climbing community try to persuade others not to climb this route until it fully forms to no avail, making it into a mixed climb most years.
Champipple
