If you love outdoor winter adventures, Diamond Lake is the place to be this weekend.
The lake, northeast of Maynooth, will be the site of activities for the Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival.
The event features clinics on Saturday and Sunday. It also has what’s called a Locals-Try-A-Climb clinic to bring in newcomers. That takes place Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Organizers say this clinic was last held in 2020, and was very successful at exposing newcomers to the sport. It’s free, courtesy of sponsors.
They say ice climbing is a great challenge, as climbing up any icy cliff is both a physical challenge and like solving a mental puzzle. But it becomes easier, as you learn techniques.
They also say that, like most activities, there are inherent risks to ice climbing, but with the right precautions, expert guides and local knowledge, safety is maximized.
Festival organizers provide tools, such as boots, harnesses, ropes and helmets.
More details are on the festival’s website.