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New Thin Ice Routes in Northern Ontario

It was a slow start to the ice climbing season in most of Canada, but with the recent cooling it seems new routes are forming.

At the popular Orient Bay north of Nipigon, Bryce Brown and Nick Buda, who have climbed numerous new routes together, climbed three likely-new routes. Guidebook author Eric Landmann, a veteran ice route expert of the area, couldn’t recall if they had ever formed or had been climbed.

“The ice is thin with some moves on rock,” Brown commented. “We did not apply a M-grade as we were always on ice, but mixed techniques were required in some sections. Also note, the protection is at times sparse and quite suspect – a fall would be very consequential (i.e. R/X).”

Plumbers Crack is a 40-metre WI4R that is “Arguably the nicest of the three.” It is found between Plum Dalliance and the classic Obsession above the Cascade parking lot.

Another line is Indifference, a 40-metre WI4-R, which is the thin ice immediately left of Obsession. From Obsession’s anchors on the left side, climb the steep curtain up and left to a ledge and up quality climbing to the top.

About 150 metres left of Obsessoin is the new Left Behind, a 50-metre WI3+R/X. The thin route requires stubbies and rock gear. For current ice  conditions in Northern Ontario, visit here.

Nick Buda on Plumers Crack, a new thin ice route at Orient Bay in Ontario.  Photo Bryce Brown
Nick Buda on Plumers Crack, a new thin ice route at Orient Bay in Ontario. Photo Bryce Brown / Follow Bryce Brown on Instagram here.

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