Ice Climbing in
The Catskills

Just a hundred miles north of New York City, the Catskills offer some of the most accessible mountain terrain in the United States. The park boundaries encompass seven hundred thousand acres of mixed hardwood and coniferous forest, lakes, rivers and streams and dozens of peaks. The region offers a remarkable array of mountain adventure.

For ice climbers, the Catskills are a real prize. There are multiple areas that are densely packed with quality routes. From roadside crags and steep sided gorges to stunning frozen waterfalls and long, isolated ravines, the area offers challenges for all level of ice climbers. For many climbers living in the region the Catskills are a gemstone hidden in plain sight. What it lacks in overall vertical relief it more than make up with in sheer variety and in many instances flat out world class quality ice and mixed climbing routes. It is a playground for climbers getting introduced to the sport, pushing their limits and training for bigger objectives.

Climbing with VMG in the Catskills opens the door to all levels of technical ice climbing whether you trying the sport for the first time or honing skills for adventures in the greater ranges. VMG provides technical equipment including boots, crampons, ice axes, harnesses and helmets for guests that do not have their own. The day typical lasts eight hours except for larger objectives. We typically meet either in New Paltz or Kingston on the way to the Catskills and then ride together into the mountains. Objectives are chosen based on climbers goals and fitness level as well as what current weather conditions allow.