MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2018

WINTER 2018 ML BLUE 85 Along with providing affordable clinics, SOIceFest has one more rather unique trait: it gives back to the community. Ice climbing is inherently a selfish activity; along with many other winter sports, it doesn’t appear to benefit society as a whole in any direct manner. SOIceFest provides a rare opportunity to change that relationship, with funds raised during the festival from the community and sponsors. The ice that climbers have come to love in Ontario often takes one outside of the cityscape and to the doorstep of smaller and less developed communities. These communities often lack basic necessities that we’re all used to in the city, such public transportation. As such, SOIceFest has been donating all its proceeds to the community care centre in Bancroft, one of Ontario’s ice climbing hubs, to help aid public transportation options for the elderly. SOIceFest will return this winter for its third installment with help from sponsors, including two title sponsors Arc’teryx Toronto and MEC. Additionally, the festival will now be allying with the Ontario Access Coalition to promote sustainable climbing. You can expect not just all the wonderful things mentioned above at this year’s festival, but also a bunch of the friendliest Canadian climbers you’ve ever met! SOIceFest3 happens February 23 – 25. soicefest.com Ice climbing is inherently a selfish activity; along with many other winter sports, it doesn’t appear to benefit society as a whole in any direct manner. SOIceFest provides a rare opportunity to change that relationship…