22nd annual Ice Climbing Festival attracts hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts

SANDSTONE, Minn.– When choosing to take on winter sports, many people tend to choose skiing and snowboarding.

But the Ice Climbing Festival in Sandstone, takes things to the extreme.

For over two decades, Sandstone has held the not so hidden gem in the Robinson Quarry Park.

Brave adventurers from both near and far gather here for this bone chilling experience.

“It’s kind of insane. When you think about it, you’re climbing on a surface that is not solid, it’s not rock, so it’s temporary. So, you have to kind of respect what you’re climbing on. So, it adds a little bit of a unique factor to it,” said Cristian Chavira.

Throughout the weekend, nearly 400 people will suit up to sink their axes, and crampons, into the ice.

“The objective hazards of rock of ice climbing include falling ice, and you’re dealing with such an unstable and ever-changing medium. Ice changes day to day,” explained Cole Trebelhorn, Chair, Minnesota Climbers Association.

This opportunity ensures anyone can climb their way towards what could be a new hobby.

“Luckily, we do offer introductory clinics for folks that have never touched ice in their life before, and we work with Lake State mountaineering and the University of Minnesota Duluth to bring gear rentals,” said Trebelhorn.

The Ice Climbing Festival supports the Minnesota Climbers Association, and this chilly tradition is made possible by volunteers.

“It’s a fantastic way to get outside and experience the Minnesota in winter from a different angle, vertically,” beamed Trebelhorn.

“During the summer is, I guess, it’s the easy time to get outside, but during the winter, it’s a little bit more tough. But as you can tell, there’s a lot of people already outside that are doing it anyways, where just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean they have to stay inside,” added Chavira.