Ice climbers and ecosystems will need to adapt as winter patterns change due to climate change. However, experts believe that the sport will survive as climbers are adaptive and willing to modify their behaviors to continue climbing. Strategies include shifting when they choose to climb, engaging in activities related to ice climbing but more compatible with the new environment, or finding new locations to practice the sport. Despite the decrease in available ice, the sport continues to attract more practitioners, making the search for ice more competitive and increasing the risk of accidents.
As ice becomes scarcer, climbers may have to move further north or higher to find suitable ice. However, there is a limitation to how high mountains can go. In response, climbers have turned to a technique called dry tooling, which involves climbing with ice-devised tools on bare rock. Dry tooling was initially considered a compromise, but it has now become a sport in itself. Despite this alternative, many climbers still prefer climbing on ice. Additionally, some cliffs and mountain faces are becoming inaccessible as ice melts, making dry tooling impossible. Rising temperatures are also melting permafrost, causing rock falls and making climbing even more hazardous.
Due to these changes, traditional references like mountain guidebooks and reports on previous climbs are no longer reliable. Climbers must now check the safety of a climbing line day by day and rely on local mountain guides for up-to-date information. With the sport becoming riskier and uncertainties higher, climbers must be more perceptive in deciding when to call off a climb. Unfortunately, climbers will likely have to make this decision more frequently in the future. Despite these challenges, climbers remain committed to the sport and are willing to adapt to continue pursuing their passion.
Overall, while the future of ice climbing may be uncertain due to climate change, climbers are determined to find ways to continue their sport. Changes in behavior, such as shifting climbing times or engaging in alternative activities, as well as the development of new techniques like dry tooling, are helping climbers adapt to the changing environment. However, the decrease in available ice and the risks associated with climbing in a changing climate pose significant challenges that climbers will need to navigate in the coming years.
