Hmm, après ski activities at Big White Ski Resort. There’s ice skating, snowshoeing, tubing (and hot-tubbing), ice climbing, snowmobile touring, spa treatments. Wait, did you say “ice climbing” – clanging razor sharp picks and steel spikes into unforgiving frozen water? The kind of sport glorified by Red Bull athletes such as Will Gadd?

Since the opening of the man-made ice tower at Big White in 2010, a lot of people have wanted to learn more.

Yes, ice climbing has gone mainstream, well, sort of.

Custom built and operated by Corporate Heights, the Big White tower is built with four telephone poles cross-braced together, then flooded with water. The ice tower freezes into three feet of thick blue ice. There is a beginner side and three other sides for more advanced climbers with a choice of 19 different routes to get to the top. We’re assured that “this is an activity for all fitness levels, and since opening has seen over 3,500 people aged from 4 to 78 take up the challenge.”

I took ice climbing lessons in 1979 and soon found it to be the coldest sport I’ve ever tried, but Big White’s mild temperatures (not to mention access to the Happy Valley Day Lodge), might make me want to try the sport again.

Due to public demand, Big White will launch an Ice Climbing Series this winter. Three winter clinics, led by Canadian ice climbing experts, will culminate in an international Ice Climbing competition. (Ice climbing was actually once in the X-Games, won by Canmore resident Gadd who will be at Big White on Feb. 9).

Right now, Big White is the only winter resort in North America offering this unique experience for all to enjoy. There will be three two-day courses starting in mid-January, including a women’s-only weekend on Jan.26 and 27.

Find out more.