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Writer's pictureDave Seasholtz

Pennsylvania Ice Climbing Conditions (2021 - 2022 Archive)

Updated: Nov 20, 2022

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Lock Haven Ice - Hidden Amphitheater - February 6, 2021


Lock Haven Ice is currently in great condition. I am very surprised that the rain event last Thursday did not wipe things out. Here are a few pics from Roadside Gully and Hidden Amphitheater today 2/6/2022. Looking across the river, The Gemini Gullies also appear to be in good shape. Not sure how the Gemini approach road is, with the recent ice/sleet storm, and the river ice moving out. (It was an easy drive 2 weeks ago). Today we opted to climb Hidden Amphitheater. All three tiers in Hidden were in good condition and we were able to lead and top out without issue. We then setup a top rope on the steep grade 4 pillar on the right side of the second tier, and ran laps there.


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Angel Falls , Loyalsock State Forest - January 29, 2022


Angel Falls is a semi-remote northcentral Pennsylvania ice climbing destination located in the Loyalsock State Forest.. The area includes a 40 ft. lower and 120 ft. upper falls, along with a steep wall to the right of the lower falls. Jason Erdman had been here 2 days prior, and reported great conditions, so we took a drive up Rt. 87 from Montoursville, and spent the day here. Ice conditions were great, but getting screws to feel secure in the aerated ice, proved to be a bit of a challenge.


YouTube Videos from Today's Outing:


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Lock Haven Ice - Gemini Gullies - January 22, 2022


Stayed local and headed up to Gemini Gullies for this weekend's climbing. We did see another party working their way up the lower pitches of Roadside Gully. The ice here really fattened up overnight in the cold temps, as it looked a bit thin the day before. The 7 mile dirt road approach to the Gemini Gullies was easily travelled with only a few icy sections. They even had the road plowed most of the way. Both gullies started out with leadable ice and we opted to start up the left route. Midway up, we looked at the upper amphitheater in the left gully, and topping out looked a bit sketchy. We then traversed over into the right gully, and found thicker ice there. Randy E. led the left option and other than the typical crux topping out, found the route leadable using shorter 13 cm. screws.

GoPro helmet cam video of today's outing in the Gemini Gullies on YouTube here:

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Ganoga Falls Amphitheater, Ricketts Glen State Park - January 15, 2022


Cold temps the prior week, brought climbable ice conditions to Ricketts Glen State Park. The main Ganoga Falls had high water flow, and was too wet for an ascent. Two sections of the Ganoga Amphitheater were in climbable condition. A group from West Chester had two lines on the Cradleboard flow to the far right, so we opted to jump on and climb the Left Wall flow. The other routes along the right wall, Dutch Eagle, Savage, and War Bonnet, still need to touch down.

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