Northeast
Ice Climbing

Feb 19-21, 2025

Adirondacks, NY

Wheelchair Icon

Skill Level:
No experience necessary!

Level 2

Accessibility Rating:
1 = Least Accessible
5 = Most Accessible

Ice Climbing

Category:
Ice Climbing

Lodging:
Shared Housing (VRBO)

Group Size

Group Size:
10 – 20

OVERVIEW

Join our annual northeast adaptive ice climbing weekend in a new location, the Adirondacks, NY! The Adirondacks in New York offer some of the best ice climbing in the lower-48. On our ice climbing trip to The Adirondacks, Paradox Sports will provide the specialized equipment and instruction needed for adaptive ice climbing. The routes in the area offer technical, demanding and sometimes mixed-climbing (rock and ice) experiences for everyone from beginner to experienced climbers pushing limits. The weekend features two days of top-rope ice climbing in the beautiful Keene Valley and the unparalleled climbing community. We provide instruction for all ages, ability, mobility levels and types. Please note that accommodations will be in shared living quarters in a VRBO, which includes shared bathroom facilities.

ACCESSIBILITY

The approach is varied (conditions vary year to year) and includes walking uphill and downhill on snow, ice and on uneven ground.  Participants will have ample support in traveling over this terrain by staff, guides and volunteers but should have a base level of comfort travelling in this terrain. If you have limited mobility, we would love to talk with you before registering to ensure we can appropriately support.
Winter temperatures in New York can vary greatly and all participants should prepare for sub zero temperatures, wind, snow and sleet by packing lots of warm clothing and layers appropriate for winter climbing. Please review our packing list carefully and let us know if you have any questions or will be unable to provide a required piece of clothing or equipment. For your protection – boots, crampons and helmets (provided, if applicable) are required at all times at the crag.
Paradox Sports strives to serve all individuals regardless of ability, and encourages individuals considering this program to review our Essential Eligibility Criteria here. If you have specific questions about this program, please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org.

TRIP SCHEDULE

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change.
A finalized schedule will be emailed to you before the trip.

WEDNESDAY

4 PM: Check in at the hostel
6 PM: Welcome dinner and socializing
9 PM: Rest up for tomorrow!

THURSDAY

8 AM: Breakfast at VRBO
9 AM – 4 PM: Full day of ice climbing, lunch at the crag
6 PM: Dinner

FRIDAY

8 AM: Breakfast at VRBO and checkout (Note: need to be packed out of rooms before climbing)
9 AM – 3 PM: Half day of ice climbing, lunch at the crag
3 PM: Pack up and depart

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Climbers:

We encourage participants to have basic outdoor experience and at minimum an introductory understanding of either rock or ice climbing. Each year we welcome first-time ice climbers into our community, right alongside some of the most experienced climbers! There will be routes available for a wide variety of skill levels, and coaches to help you succeed – whatever your goals may be. On this trip in particular, you should be comfortable in cold weather, and have a baseline fitness level in order to participate.
We encourage climbers to bring their own personal gear if possible, including a harness and a helmet (and ice boots and crampons if you have them!). Some climbing equipment and personal gear can be borrowed as needed – please include these requests in your registration. You can see a full packing list for trips at the button above, and we are happy to answer any questions about gear that you might have!
Shared rooms at a VRBO in Jay, NY (More details coming soon!). We match people with roommates based on requests during the registration process and any other information that we have. If you are coming to the program with someone and are requesting to share a room, please include this in your registration.

All participants and climbing assistants are responsible for their transportation to and from the event as well as during the weekend.

 There are several airports in the surrounding area including Lake Placid Airport (30 minute drive to lodging) and Plattsburgh International Airport (40 minute drive to lodging) being the closest.
Due to the nature of this program, climbing assistants should have previous experience on a Paradox Sports trip, attended a Paradox Sports volunteer training, Adaptive Climbing Initiative course, and/or be an experienced climber. We encourage all assistants to have experience in the outdoors, be comfortable assisting others through variable terrain, and have at least an introductory understanding of ice climbing and the associated equipment. Paradox Sports reserves the right to assign assistants to appropriate roles based on the assessment of experience, skills, comfort and overall ability.
Climbing Assistants register through the link above, and select “Climbing Assistant Registration”. The cost for assisting with the same as the cost for adaptive climbers. As a non-profit, we need to cover our cost to operate and this includes both participants and assistants pitching in to cover trips costs. Often the lines between “participant” and “assistant” are indistinguishable as we enjoy a weekend of climbing as a community. Registration fees for everyone cover food, lodging, equipment, professional guides, extra programming, insurance, and other overhead for planning the trip. It takes a lot to make these programs succeed – we thank you for your contribution both physically and financially.
If you are an AMGA certified guide and want to volunteer guide time on any of our programs, please contact our Program Manager Nate McKenzie at nate@paradoxsports.org.

What’s Included:

•    Professional guides and instruction with a ratio of 2:1
•    Two days top rope ice climbing, equipment, instruction in the White Mountains in Rumney, NH
•    Lodging: Shared lodging space at a local VRBO in Jay, NY.
•    Meals: Wednesday dinner; Thursday breakfast, lunch and dinner; Friday breakfast and lunch
•    Gear: Technical ice climbing equipment provided if necessary (please indicate your gear needs in your registration)

What’s Not Included:

•    Transportation: All participants and volunteers are responsible for getting to and from the event, as well as transportation during the weekend.
•   Guardian / Partner registrations: Each registration is for one individual only. If your friends, significant other, guardian or personal aid would like to join, we ask that they register as a volunteer for the trip and help cover the costs of lodging, meals, logistics, guides, etc. and that they are eager and willing to be an active part of the community for the weekend!
•   Alcohol is not included, and not permitted while on Paradox Sports programs.
* For information on financial assistance please see more details here.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of our programs, Paradox Sports has a no pets policy.  If you have a service animal that you plan to bring with you on a program, please be sure to let us know in advance and familiarize yourself with this Service Animal Agreement.  We will require a signed copy of this agreement from anyone bringing a service dog with them on the trip.  If you bring any animals on a program that are not service animals, you may be asked to leave without reimbursement.
*Note: Please be advised that ice climbing trips include risks for your service animal including, but not limited to, extreme cold, falling ice, crampons, and more.  If a staff member or guide encourages you to leave your dog at home, it is out of safety concern for your animal due to the dangers listed above. 

We have a cancellation policy to ensure the maximum number of climbers can attend and spots do not go unused.

If you cancel:

•    2 weeks or more before the event, you will receive a full refund of your registration fees unless costs were incurred by Paradox Sports; in that case, we may retain 10% of your registration fee.
•   Less than 2 weeks before the event and we cannot fill your spot, you will be charged 50% of the registration fee.
•   Without notice (no-show) your registration fee is non-refundable and we will retain the full fee.
•   For cancellations due to emergency situations and special cases, please contact us to discuss options. We will work with you for the best solution.
*If you are asked to leave any Paradox Sports event by staff due to inappropriate behavior, you will not be refunded any fees in association with the trip or event, no matter the duration that you were in attendance. 

Questions? Please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org or by phone 720-638-5593