Ice climbing in Virginia... what!?! Rare, but quality ice here does exist. In January 2025, a dome of arctic air settled over the mid-Atlantic for two weeks keeping temperatures below freezing. This small window of time allowed streams to freeze thick enough to climb. Local ice climbers had been waiting all year for these conditions - so when the ice was in, it was time to climb in the frozen east.
I was invited to join a group of experienced climbers on an adventure that left me in awe of the sport. A three-mile, uphill trek through snowy mountains brought us to a 93-foot ice fall. The winter scene was majestic. An epic amphitheater of cliffs with a frozen waterfall right in the middle of it. While approaching the base of the falls from the scree field, we could hear the roar of water cascading through the stream bed. Since the creek was not completely frozen over, small sections of flowing water were visible behind parts of the blue ice curtain. Each climber chose a different line - same destination, different route. They made climbing ice look easy as they swung their picks and dug their spikes into the wall. Down deep in the shadows of the gorge, light never touched the icy rock chasm. It was cold, but the cold was celebrated. The crew was clearly satisfied with the conditions that played out. It was fun to be out in the snowy woods, doing something different.
Post climb, I wondered where the next ice climbing opportunity might be… maybe our humble Appalachian Mountains are better suited than I thought? I pulled out my gazetteer and scanned it, intent on finding tight, topographic lines being crossed by blue streams - here in Virginia, they are everywhere! While the more popular waterfalls in the region are obvious destinations, I love the hidden gems. Deep in the thick forest canopies, there are many unmarked ribbons of rock with streams seeping over them. First ascents waiting to be climbed, scattered across the Blue Ridge. When conditions are right, the untapped possibilities seem endless.
It was inspiring to witness ice climbing for the first time - I didn’t even know you could do that in Virginia. When the Arctic air hovers in our region again, I wonder where the ice falls will form and what beautiful, challenging features will unfold.
