Get Ready to Experience the Adventure of Northwest Ontario with Outdoor Skills And Thrills!
This climbing program was designed to provide you with an exciting progression that is specifically catered to the experience levels of you and your group. Under the expert guidance of your climbing guide, your instruction will begin with the very basics and then work up from there. As an ice climber you will learn how to use crampons correctly and how to use your ice axes as tools effectively for climbing ice. You will also learn ice climbing techniques in detail, making certain that you are comfortable and confident in this environment while getting after your ice ascents!
All technical climbing equipment is included – If you have personal equipment please feel free to bring your own gear. Any personal equipment will be inspected prior to use.
Program Itinerary
This is a basic outline of the itinerary for our adventure; however we customize/modify our outings based on each individuals level of experience. The day begins with your drive time to the climbing location.
-Arrival at the Climbing Destination! Meet and greet at the parking area
-Meet and greet at the parking area *minimize time near road*
• Distribute gear to each climber
(harness, helmet, mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axes)
Waiver forms filled out & submitted
• Hike to site
*Hike-in times vary depending on which location & which climb at that location
Talking About Site Safety and Equipment
• Objective hazards discussed
• Helmets to be worn at all times
• Equipment explained, fitted to each person, and secured.
• How to climb – basic techniques to get started
• How to come back down safely – proper lowering techniques on ice
Climbing Time and Skill Building
• Get to try it out with your first climbs!
• Using your crampons efficiently
• Ice axe placements
• Belaying + Communication Essentials
Lunch: On your own time whenever you please
More Climbing Time and Skill Building
• Group progressively learns techniques to climb more efficiently on the ice; customized to each individual’s experience level
• Learning advanced techniques to climb more efficiently
• Learn about ice formation and ice conditions
Last Climbs of the Day
Tear Down, Clean Up, and Pack Up
Hike time back to the parking area for departure
Drive Time Back to Thunder Bay
Clothing Considerations
Waiver Form:
Click Here to view/print the Waiver Form
If you do not have access to a printer, your guide will have blank copies available on the day of your outing.
Driving Directions (find your location below – click here for an overview map of the locations)
Orient Bay – GPS to Meeting Spot: 49.021924, -88.288351
The ground zero of ice climbing in the region and located only an hour and a half from Thunder Bay, approximately 30-40km’s north of Nipigon, Ontario! This gorge is carved by the melt waters of the last glaciers, and holds more than a hundred climbing routes at every difficulty level from very easy to very hard.
Driving Directions from Thunder Bay:
CLICK HERE to open directions in Google Maps
You will be meeting at the Tim Horton’s coffee shop in Nipigon and then following your guide out to the final destination based on which climb(s) you will be getting after for the day. From Thunder Bay drive east on ‘HWY 11/17’ for approx 110 km’s and turn left into the Tim Horton’s parking area. From there you will follow your guide’s vehicle past the town of Nipigon and over the suspension bridge before turning left on to ‘HWY 11’. Continue up ‘HWY 11’ for another 30 – 40kms to arrive at the parking area.
To find the meeting spot using Google Maps, type in ‘Your Location’ to ‘Tim Horton’s Nipigon’.
Parking:
There are a number of parking areas up the Orient Bay corridor depending on which climb(s) you will be getting on for your adventure. You may be parking either at a pullout or on the shoulder of the highway. The pullouts may or may not be plowed. Please be aware that if they are not plowed we will be parking on the side of a busy highway, so please make sure you are parked well off the road and that there are no trucks/cars passing by when you exit/enter your vehicle. If you have a snow shovel it would be wise to bring it with you in the vehicle in order to shovel out a larger parking spot.
Kama Bay – GPS to Meeting Spot: 49.012609, -88.016106
Considered one of the best hidden gems for ice and mixed climbing, it is located approx 20km’s east of Nipigon, Ontario and only an hour and a half from Thunder Bay! Huge variety of climbs of various heights ranging from fairly easy to extremely hard.
Driving Directions from Thunder Bay:
CLICK HERE to open directions in Google Maps
Drive east on ‘HWY 11/17’ for approx 110 km’s. Just past the town of Nipigon after you cross over the suspension bridge, start your vehicle odometer and continue on HWY 17 for another 20 km’s – Turn left on to Domtar 81 Road and continue for another 100 meters to meet your guide. You have arrived!
To find using Google Maps, type in ‘Your Location’ to ‘Mazukama Falls Hiking Trail’ or the GPS coordinates above and follow the directions.
Parking:
You will be parking on the right hand side of the road in line behind your guide’s vehicle.
Thunder Bay – GPS to Meeting Spot: 48.318382, -89.325091
With multiple ice climbing locations as close as a 15 minute drive from the city, Thunder Bay is jam packed with high quality areas ready to be experienced by climbers! The hike in to these particular climbs definitely adds to the adventure 😉
Driving Directions from Thunder Bay:
CLICK HERE to open directions in Google Maps
We will be meeting at the end of Feaver Road. To get there from Thunder Bay, drive south on ‘HWY 61’ for approx 10 km’s and turn left onto 15th Sideroad. Continue for 1.8 km’s to the end of the road and then turn left onto Mountain Road. After 1.2 km’s you will be taking a sharp right turn onto Feaver Road. Drive for 730 meters to the end of this road and this is where you will meet you guide!
To find using Google Maps, type in ‘Your Location’ to ‘Feaver Road’
Parking:
You will be parking at the end of a road behind your guide’s vehicle on the right hand side.
South Gillies – GPS to Meeting Spot: 48.2795202, -89.5655211
A new climbing location recently developed by Aric Fishman of Outdoor Skills And Thrills! This spot is ideal for a half day or full day outing for those looking to get on a wide variety of super fun climbs that are not quite as tall as some of the other locations we visit. Difficulty levels range from easy to hard, and the hike in is short and sweet.
Driving Directions from Thunder Bay:
CLICK HERE to open directions in Google Maps
We will be meeting at a large pullout on the side of East Oliver Lake Road. To get there from Thunder Bay, drive south on ‘HWY 61’ for approx 20 km’s and turn right onto Boundary Drive. From there continue for 9km’s and turn left onto E Oliver Lake Road. Drive for another 1km and you will see your guide’s vehicle parked in a large pullout on the right hand side next to a small building.
To find using Google Maps, type in ‘Your Location’ to ‘Municipality of Neebing Fire Hall 4’
Parking:
You will be parking at a large pullout off the road next to your guide’s vehicle.
Neebing – GPS to Meeting Spot: 48.025227, -89.594335
Another new climbing location recently discovered and developed by Aric Fishman of Outdoor Skills And Thrills! This spot is well suited for a half day outing for those looking to get on a some less challenging climbs in a beautiful area.
Driving Directions from Thunder Bay:
CLICK HERE to open directions in Google Maps
We will be meeting at a small pullout on the right hand side just off Hwy 593 immediately after turning off Hwy 61. To get there from Thunder Bay, drive south on ‘HWY 61’ for approx 58 km’s and turn right onto Hwy 593. Directly after you turn on the 593 you will see your guide’s vehicle parked in a small pullout on the right hand side.
To find using Google Maps, type in ‘Your Location’ to ‘Hwy 61 and Ontario 593’
Parking:
You will be parking at a small pullout behind a community mailbox just off the highway next to your guide’s vehicle.
Policies & Procedures
All adventures/courses are confirmed and booked based on guide’s availability. Once a reservation is submitted check your e-mail for an automatic confirmation of payment (check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox) and we will get in touch with you within 48 hours to confirm all the details of your outing for you or your group.
After Submitting your Reservation: Each climber is required to fill out a Participant Information Sheet online. Please do this as soon as you’ve submitted your payment. This is to ensure we have all the information needed to provide you with the best possible experience and the properly fitted equipment.
Equipment Rental: The total cost of the trip includes the rental of all technical equipment needed for the outing: helmet, harness, rock shoes, ice axes, ice boots, crampons, and whatever else may be required for a specific course or adventure.
Transportation: Transportation to the rock climbing locations & ice climbing locations is not included. You will need to arrange a way to and from the climbing spot.
Waiver Form: You will be required to sign our Waiver Form before commencing the program. Participants under the age of 18 will need their parent/guardian’s permission to complete registration. Minors who show up for an adventure or course without a properly signed waiver by their parent or legal guardian will not be allowed to participate. At Outdoor Skills And Thrills we take great pride in ensuring our participants have a fun and safe experience. The proof is in the records – we are proud to say that we have never had an incident or injury occur during any of our guided outings! Nonetheless, we do want to make sure you are aware that rock and ice climbing is a dangerous activity that can result in death, paralysis or serious injury.
Cancellation & Refund Policy: Once a reservation is submitted we hold a $50 non-refundable deposit per person. All program deposits are non-refundable, and the full amount becoming non-refundable 48 hours prior to the date of the reservation. Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to make any date changes to your reservation. All requests for cancellations or date changes must be submitted in writing to info@outdoorskillsandthrills.com.We reserve the right to cancel any program due to weather or route conditions, guide health, or for any other reason deemed necessary by the guide. In such cases, we are not responsible for expenses incurred by the client in connection with the trip such as airfare, car rental, equipment purchases, etc. If we cancel an outing prior to the trip date, every effort will be made to reschedule for another available date within the current season, or held as a credit to be used within 2 years. By its very nature, climbing is an uncertain endeavor, and many factors can influence the outcome of a trip. Accordingly, once a trip begins, we are unable to offer refunds for weather related cancellations, or for trips that end prematurely due to weather, route conditions or circumstances within, or affecting, your group.
Cancellation/Health & Interruption Insurance: It is important to make sure that your current plan covers you in the case of an illness, accident, cancellation, or interruption prior to or during your trip; get extra coverage if necessary. In the case of a trip cancellation or interruption, we cannot be held responsible for expenses incurred by the client in connection with the trip such as airfare, car rental, equipment purchases, etc.
Drugs and Alcohol: No alcohol or drug use is allowed on our programs. We have a zero tolerance policy and no climbing is ever permitted under the influence of alcohol or drugs.