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Good ice can be found almost anywhere there is vertical terrain. precipitation and freezing weather. All temperate countries have ice. Some have waterfalls. Some are more climbable than others. To reach the ice. the approach hike can be anything from a short walk or a strenuous scramble to an international flight. Here are some of the top places to climb the world over. KEENE. ADIRONDACKS. NY Quintessential northeast ice climbing. Consistent cold weather, easy access and low elevation make it easy to get in a lot of vertical in a short time. Perched in the high peaks of the Adirondacks, the Adirondack Rock and River Guide Service provides accommodations, guides and conditions. Contact them at www.rockandriver.com. NORTH CONWAY. NH Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains, the Mount Washington Valley and White Mountain National Forest are a playground for all levels of ice climbers. Rumored to be the best ice on the east coast, one famous Colorado cl imber has been overheard saying it was the best ice he has ever found. Contact Chauvin Guides International for guiding, conditions and route descriptions at www.chauvinguides.com. Good local shops are Eastern Mountain Sports (603- 356-5433) and International Mountain Equipment (603-356-7064). JACKSON. WY Known for its mountaineering, Jackson has a nice variety of ice challenges. Stunning mountain backdrops, famous technical routes and a long season make this destination as popular as it is challenging. Contact Exum Guides for guiding and conditions at www.exumguides.com. HYALITE CANYON. NEAR BOZEMAN. MT Bozeman has cold winters, plenty of ice and an easygoing attitude toward climbers, movie stars and cowboys, often at the same bar. If you can't shake the chill, warm up in the area's numerous hot springs. Contact Barrel Mountaineering for latest routes, conditions and guiding at www.barrelmtn.com. OURAY. CO Ouray has one of the best-known ice parks in the Rockies. Pipes divert water to the top of a narrow canyon where it is dripped over the edge. The resulting ice provides days of climbing for all levels. Hotels. restaurants and hot springs are walking distance from the park, known as "Switzerland of America" for its scenic location. Contact Above Ouray Ice and Tower Rock Climbing Guides for conditions and instructions at www.towerguides.com. Several canyons drain into Utah's Wasatch Front. Each has good climbing but the best is Provo Canyon. Visit the training grounds for some of the best and most aggressive cl imbers out today. Contact Exum Utah Mountain Adventure for conditions and guiding at www.exum.ofutah.com. LEE VINING. CA Lee Vining is located in an easily accessible canyon near the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park-unfortunately, this accessibility makes the area vulnerable to crowds on weekends. Lee Vining is perfect for beginner-to- intermediate climbers and offers multi-pitch gradients. Many lines have bolt anchors for top roping. Rank amateurs will be more comfortable at nearby Juno Lake. The season is from November to April. For more information. contact Nidever Mountain Guides at www.themountainguide.com. 760-648-1122. BOULDER. CO Not only does Boulder have plenty of natural ice climbing lines, but local climbers, the Forest Service and the Access Fund have been experimenting with ice farming and trying to determine the benefits and damages of fabricating icefalls. The season runs from November to April. For more information, contact Alpine World Ascents at www.alpineworldascents.com. 303-247-0668. VALDEZ. AK Valdez is not just a mecca for snow-riding obsessives-it's also the North American gold mine of big climbs and crowdless falls. Alaska isn't easy to get to, but that's why the world-class routes stay uncrowded. For more information, visit Richard Vi lla Mountain www.alaskagold .com/villalTripsNaldez/iceclimb.html. CANADIAN ICE BANFF AND JASPER NATIONAL PARKS. CANADIAN ROCKIES. ALBERTA The Canadian Rockies have over 30,000 square kilometers of ice filled mountains situated between Jasper and Calgary. Their unique combination of climate and topography choke the area with long, often easily accessible ice. Daunting in its size and selection, it has long been considered the place to climb serious ice. Climbable ice can form as early as October and sometimes remain as late as June. March has a good combination of daylight hours and temperature. Contact the Alpine Club of Canada at www.alpineclubofcanada .com for all your climbing questions. For climbing gear and advice stop at Mountain Equipment Co-op (403-269-2420) in Calgary, Monods (403-762-4571) in Banff or at Gravity Gear (403-852- 3155) in Jasper. LAKE SUPERIOR REGION Lake Superior's combination of severe winters, rugged watershed and minimal crowds makes the region one of the finest ice climbing destinations in North America. Between Ontario and the USA's Canada, Minnesota, Michigan Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, there are dozens of climbing areas, hundreds of lines and faces that soar up to 600 feet. Many routes are in sight of the lake. The season runs from November to April. Major Lake Superior locations include: ORIENT BAY. ON: With roughly 200 routes, this is the most popular ice climbing area in the region. Amateurs can tackle the bunny slopes of the icefalls while more experienced climbers can challenge their technical abilities on thin, steep columns. For more information, contact North of Superior Climbing Company (www.northofsuperior.com. 705-882-1032). AGAWA CANYON. ON: Multipitch climbs, multiple aspects, and 600+ foot falls make Agawa a popular destination for climbers. Located 112 miles from Sault Ste Marie, the train is the only way to get in and out; there is no train station so you have to flag the train down. The falls don't begin to freeze until December. For drop-off information, call the Algoma Central Railway at 800-242-9287. THUNDER BAY. ON: The gateway to Northwest Ontario, Thunder Bay offers hundreds of roadside climbs that rise as high as 300 feet. Guide companies boast access to first ascents on "secret falls" for guests willing to front the dough. For more information, contact North of Superior Climbing Company (www.northofsuperior.com. 705-882-1032). Guide at