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Posted by ascentnb on

Ice Climbing School – Feb 10th

Ice Climbing School – Feb 10th

This class is now at capacity. Stay tuned for another Ice Climbing School later in the season.


Ascent NB will be holding an Ice Climbing School on Saturday, February 10th!  The event will be held at Mt Misery on the Kingston Peninsula.

This full day event costs $100 for non-members (this includes an Ascent NB membership thru April 1st 2019!!!) and $60 for members (including FitRocks and UNB Rock and Ice members!). Half of the fee is required as a non-refundable deposit, and no refunds are permitted in the final week before the event. Bring a friend and you each will get a $20 discount!

All technical gear is provided (boots, crampons, ice tools, helmets, harnesses, belay devices) so all you'll need is warm layered waterproof clothing, your lunch, and your psyche! Space is limited so sign up early.

Minimum age of 14 (at our discretion).  Under 16 requires adult accompaniment. Under 19, must submit in advance a waiver signed by the legal guardian

To register:

  1. send us your deposit by Email Money Transfer to ascentnb@gmail.com
  2. email ascentnb@gmail.com. Put "Cool as Ice! - February 2018 Ice Climbing School" in the subject to indicate how stoked you are to try ice climbing!
  3. ensure you've submitted a waiver either electronically, or in person the day of the event.

All proceeds will go to help pay for Ascent NB's single largest expense, the insurance policy that our land use agreements require.

Details on boot sizing, location meeting times, etc., will be distributed in the next couple weeks.

Posted by ascentnb on

Welsford Rendezvous Roundup

Welsford Rendezvous Roundup

Despite a last minute scheduling shakeup, the first ever Welsford Rendezvous climbing festival was a resounding success!14457320_1117308925030536_4545548092491285740_n

On Saturday evening, a strong contingent of the New Brunswick climbing community came together on a chilly and fire-less night to celebrate our shared passion.  In attendance were two of the original three pioneers of New Brunswick climbing, Colin Bell and Fred Doucette. These fine gentlemen were presented with Pioneer Awards and their acceptance speeches were brilliantly nostalgic and crowd pleasing.  It was so great to hear stories about those first years, and to relate to that same spirit of adventure that binds us together today. While not climbing these days, Colin and Fred were no less interested in seeing where climbing has come in the province since their first adventures in the late '70s. Remember, these guys put up Pink Panther before a lot of us were born!14457484_1825626577671889_5366921974225387046_n

The evening also included the Ascent NB Annual General Meeting, a demonstration by the Remote Rescue Team of a steep angle rescue using the new rescue gear cache, and more festivities that included a pull up competition, a rope coiling competition, and some tasty BBQ and frosty beverages.

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The climbing challenges were held on Sunday, where we saw several teams vying for the Cochrane Lane Classics Challenge, with Francois Côté and Eric Sloan besting the competition by climbing the 13 routes in a time of ~6h50m! Alec Manley and Dom Caron came in 2nd with a time of ~7h32m, followed by the brothers Sam and Will Jones at ~8h. The bar has been set and no doubt everyone will be back next year to beat that time.

A single team comprised of Ian Lingley and Lucas Toron took to the Welsford Crags Challenge, which saw them cycling between climbing routes at Cochrane Lane, Eagle Rock, and Bald Peak, before returning to Cochrane Lane in a time of ~1h53m. Well done!
Awards went to:

  • Pioneer Award - Colin Bell, Gilles LaCroix and Fred Doucette
  • Cochrane Lane Classics Challenge - Eric Sloan and Francois Côté
  • Welsford Crags Challenge - Lucas Toron and Ian Lingley
  •  Women's Pull Up Comp - Franca Zambito
  • Men's Pull Up Comp - Greg Hughes
  • Rope Coiling Comp - Max Heffler14448980_1826013847633162_9132734873001602362_n14484790_1117308958363866_559244407897044137_n

A big shout out and thank you to all the participants and folks who came out to support this event.  Considering the circumstances we consider it to have been a huge success and will be continuing next year.  Stay tuned for more info about what we have planned for the next one.

A HUGE thank you to The Radical Edge in Fredericton, River and Trail in Rothesay, and Ocean Trail Source for Adventure in Moncton, for donating awesome prizes for our climbing challenges and door prizes.  You would not believe how excited everyone was to have their numbers drawn for door prizes! It was like a zombie apocalypse (pics anyone??)! Also, thanks to Maybee Brewing for giving us a break on the cost of some delicious beverages!

And of course Ascent would not be where it is without the support of our sponsors, Precision Pilates, Fredericton Volkswagen, and of course14446048_1117308988363863_6051375226740547734_n, UNB Rock and Ice. Their continued support has kept Ascent alive in the first few years as we grow into self-sufficiency. Thank you guys so much!


Sunday also saw Ascent NB hold its first ever Beginner Rock School.  The sun shone on the participants who braved a windy day at LShape/Joe's that saw a half dozen cold but short rain showers get us all worried it was the end of our day.  Instead each shower passed and the sun kept coming back to warm us up. Everyone had a blast and was no doubt pretty sore the next day (or two!). More info to come!

Posted by Greg Hughes on

Welsford Rendezvous

Welsford Rendezvous

Hey folks Ascent New Brunswick is hosting the first ever Welsford Rendezvous this September 24 at Cochrane Lane in Welsford.  The purpose of the event is to gather our community of climbers from both the past and present to hang out, socialize and partake in the day’s events. We are planning to have climbing comps, games, gear demos, clinics, the Ascent New Brunswick AGM during the morning and afternoon.  In the evening we will have an awards presentation featuring some surprises that no one will want to miss.  The rendezvous will take place in the farmer’s field and gravel pit at Cochrane Lane.  We are currently planning the event and will announce details of the climbing comps and the event schedule soon.  So mark the date on your calendars and see you on September 24.

Posted by ascentnb on

2nd Annual General Meeting – 10am Saturday, October 4th

2nd Annual General Meeting – 10am Saturday, October 4th

It's hard to believe it's been nearly a year since our inaugural AGM.  Since then Ascent NB seen substantial support growth from the community and through partnerships, and as such has gained significant momentum.

We are planning our second AGM for 10am Saturday, October 4th, once again at the end of Cochrane Lane.  Please join us to elect new executive members and to discuss the direction of Ascent New Brunswick. The best way to have your voice heard is to attend this meeting and join in the discussion!

We are holding it a little later than last year to avoid the UNB Rock and Ice 'Rock School' and the ever-popular Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton.

A specific time and agenda will be posted in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned!