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Nipigon Ice Fest 2021 includes Kendra Stritch, Paul McSorley and Quentin Roberts

Watch three of North America's top winter climbers at the ice fest held in Northwestern Ontario

Photo by: Lyle Knight of Quentin Roberts on Mythologic WI6+

On March 6, you can watch three of North America’s best winter climbers talk virtually at the 2021 Nipigon Ice Fest from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m EST. Visit here to tune in. Speaking will be Quentin Roberts (Chasing Dreams in the Big Mountains), Kendra Stritch (Stories from the Making of Ice Lines – Select Waterfalls of the Canadian Rockies) and Paul McSorley (Coastal Ice, From Arctic to Rainforest).

The Nipigon Ice Fest, which has been taking place in Northwestern Ontario, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The festival often attracts climbers from around the world. Don’t miss this all-star lineup of talks!

Quentin Roberts: Quentin Roberts has been climbing mountains all of his life. His love for climbing began on the South coast of Wales where he grew up scrambling on the limestone sea cliffs. After finishing high school on the coast of British Columbia, he enrolled in Engineering at UBC where he climbed more than he studied and used his student loans to fund his various expeditions. Now that he’s graduated, Quentin has moved to the Canadian Rockies and continues to climb hard routes all over the world. Quentin has climbed 5.13+ on gear, soloed difficult North Faces, and made bold first ascents in Patagonia and Peru. He is always striving to push the envelope of modern alpinism both in Canada and Internationally.

Kendra Stritch: Kendra will be sharing stories of friendship, trying conditions, and great climbing from the making of the guide book. Kendra and Brent, with community help, wrote and self published this guide with beautiful pictures and first ascent stories. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she began climbing in 2006, ice climbing in the winter of 2007 and joined the UIAA World Tour circuit in 2012. The cold winters of Minnesota and her passion for climbing meant scaling ice was a logical progression in her climbing. She enjoys all disciplines of climbing but you can tell there’s a little extra passion for ice. She made history in 2014 when she became the first North American to win a stage of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. This historic success arrived on the speed wall in Bozeman, Montana.

Paul McSorley: Coastal Ice, From Arctic to Rainforest; showcases winter climbs from the Arctic Circle in Norway to the Icy walls of Scotland and Patagonia and the West Coast of BC.
Paul is a long-time climber who began his journey on the rocks of Southern Ontario. He’s traveled around the world opening first ascents on Rock, Ice and in the Alpine on five continents. He lives in Squamish, BC where there is a lifetime of new routing within walking distance from his home.

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Lead photo: Lyle Knight of Quentin Roberts on Mythologic WI6+