Meet Hana Ogasawara - unfiltered, unchanged and janky as f***. This Icebox Sessions episode rambles from beer to espresso and eventually mentions climbing. Hana shares her frugal lifestyle and commitment to annual long term road trips on the bouldering circuit . Before touring with her beater van (called "Plop"), she recounts her climbing path from New Zealand to the Dockyards to the Rock Court, where she met the influential Ben "Smizzle" Smith - who would change the course of her life forever. What is climbing exactly? Who needs to send if you can project one move forever? Micro-progress and perfecting beta motivate Hana her more than the send - although sometimes she'll reach Resurrection after 9 years of effort on a single boulder. Experience the dirtbag Van Life - suffering the cold and loneliness for morning views of the Sierras.

Icebox Session - Episode Notes

https://www.iceboxsessions.ca//ibs-episodes/hana-ogasawara

Icebox Session - All Links

https://linktr.ee/iceboxsessions

Chapters

00:00 Why We Climb

00:59 Beers and Unfiltered Banter

02:32 Fame and Deep Resentment

04:51 Barista Life Philosophy

06:51 Frugal As ....

17:52 Van Life

20:03 How Hana Started Climbing

22:54 Ben Smith and Early Sends

32:16 Projecting Micro Progress

40:27 Try Hard Dammit

42:30 Injuries & Rehab

49:05 Training for Longevity

52:26 The Dirtbag Circuit

01:03:08 Aging on the Road

01:23:25 Goals and Wrap Up

Will Sarty “Arm Bender” - current president of Climb Nova Scotia and former professional arm wrestler (15 national titles and two golds at Worlds) - dives into his growing passion for rock climbing. After retiring from bending arms in 2016 due to severe elbow injury, he became hooked on outdoor climbing in 2021, describing goal-driven seasons (250 new routes in one year) and lists many of his favorite climbs, including Heavy Petter, Chameleon, Sleepwalking, and more. Sarty discusses training approaches (yoga, rice-bucket extensor work, lock-off training), the value of rest and downclimbing, and how climbing helps him manage PTSD and depression from Afghanistan service. He outlines CNS priorities: rebuilding credibility with Sport Nova Scotia, updating bylaws, ethics clinics, clean-and-climb events, insurance/membership needs, supporting new crag development, and bringing back Boulderfest.

Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes:

https://www.iceboxsessions.ca/ibs-episodes/will-sarty

Icebox Sessions - All Links:

https://linktr.ee/iceboxsessions

Chapters

00:00 Nova Scotia is Chossy

02:26 Arm Bending

03:46 Climbing as Secret Weapon

06:35 Arm Wrestling Meets Climbing

08:25 From Training to Obsession

11:59 Outdoor Breakthrough and Trad Fears

14:33 Project Goals and Big Sends

17:31 Chameleon

26:50 Training Without Hangboards

27:35 Lock Off Strength Drills

28:17 Moonboard Footwork Lessons

29:10 Yoga For Climbing Control

30:33 Climb Nova Scotia

42:34 Boulderfest Returns

46:54 Favorite Routes And Projects

51:09 Climbing And PTSD Healing

Parvin shares stories of Iran’s Climbing Scene and her recent move to Halifax to become the Head Route Setter and coach at East Peak climbing gym. She has an impressive resume as a climber - competing with Iran's national team, judging climbing comps internationally, and bagging the first female ascents of a number of 5.13s just outside of Tehran.

She is now focussed on sharing her stoke and experience with a new generation of climbers in Nova Scotia - and promoting the benefits of projecting and finding our own beta to solve puzzles and strengthen our minds.

Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes

Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Icebox Sessions

04:21 East Peak Community Vibe

07:27 War Trauma and Healing Through Sport

10:49 Life in Iran

11:52 It Began in the Mountains

13:17 International Judging

16:24 First Female 5.13 Ascents

22:21 Finding Your Own Beta

34:15 Training the Mental Game

36:41 Gender Rules and Segregation in Iran

40:57 Female Spirit

44:55 Breaking Stereotypes

46:40 A Home Wall to Rival The Icebox

47:59 Route Setting and Coaching

50:56 Coaching Kids and Adults

55:45 Trusting Your Body

01:05:44 Travel and Sponsorship

01:08:15 Sketchy Big Wall Climbing

01:15:35 Climbing as Therapy

Meet the "infectiously stoked” Henry Morrow - a climber equally comfortable on plastic holds in the gym or climbing without a rope over the ocean in the middle of the night. Henry describes what it was like learning to climb outdoors by trial and error and the recent growth of Nova Scotia’s climbing community over the last few years. We talk about his DWS (deep water soloing) explorations, development of a new climbing crag, international travel and various homegrown epics - mostly in Cape Breton.

Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes⁠

Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:37 Why Are You So Stoked?

06:02 Stepping Outside

09:08 Deep Water Soloing

12:46 Blue Island Ocean Epic

16:44 Night Sessions

18:58 Climbing and Addiction

22:14 Training

25:11 Cape Clear Epic #1

28:41 Is Parkouring the New Alpinism?

31:47 Hola Argentina

34:26 The Beauty of Trad Cimbing

42:15 Favourite Lines

46:18 New Crags

51:27 Climbing Events

54:10 Cape Clear Epic #2

59:10 Shared Experiences

1:02:08 DWS Health Benefits

In this episode, longtime Nova Scotia climber Todd "The Bod" Foster (aka "Toddles") exposes ALL. He talks about his 25-year impact on the local scene through guidebooks, route and boulder development, and his award-winning film Eastern Tide. Foster explains how partnerships helped him produce multiple guides (rope climbing, Digby Neck, Halifax Region) and why he’s working on an Eastern Shore volume now, emphasizing knowledge transfer and community succession. He recounts learning to climb in the 1990s through top-roping at Eagles Nest, the Dal wall, and self-teaching from books, and later being inspired by early bouldering at Duncan’s Cove on homemade pads. We discuss the tradeoffs of beta videos, his preference for moderate climbing, an injury-averse approach focused on climbing rather than training. We also delve into his motivations for bolting accessible sport routes and his aversion to trad climbing - while also getting excited about the indoor gym scene and a growing generation of outdoor-focused climbers.

More Show Notes

⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Icebox

01:58 Writing Guidebooks

10:01 Eagles Nest

16:34 Bouldering With Homemade Pads

21:46 Projecting and Beta Videos

34:24 Eastern Tide World Tour

41:37 Is V5 Harder Than V15?

46:18 Choose Easy

50:30 Training and Injury

56:40 Bouldering vs Roped Climbing

59:39 Lessons for Todd 2.0

01:05:18 Toddles Wants to Sport Climb

01:13:36 Is Trad a Thing Anymore?

01:20:52 Route Development

01:26:05 The Community

Heather Reynolds shares stories of 35+ years of contributing to the local climbing community, including route development, coaching, and releasing a book on performance rock climbing. Reynolds recounts starting climbing with Sean Willett, helping found Climb Nova Scotia in 1991 to protect access at Main Face, contributing to the Dalplex Fieldhouse wall (opened 1992) and later the Rock Court (opened 2002), and the importance of recognizing volunteers and first ascensionists. She describes years of road-tripping, researching and meeting elite climbers, emphasizing that mental approach and movement efficiency often matter more than raw strength. We discuss the differences between gym rats and outdoor climbing, route-setting, fear, flow state, and aging. She also explains how yoga, writing, and community connection shape her current life.

Icebox Sessions - Episodes Notes

⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Entering Flow State

06:57 This is What Life is About

16:03 Kinesiology to Coaching

18:40 Grand Wall Epic

23:30 Five Years on the Road

30:32 Legends and Mental Game

36:48 Indoor vs Outdoor Climbers

45:32 Coaching Without Climbing Hard

50:08 Athlete Identity Shift

52:19 Fear Of Falling Lessons

54:40 Hueco Breakthrough

58:31 Working in the Gyms

01:02:33 Sending Tsunami

01:08:47 Mindset And Aging

01:20:00 Imposter Syndrome And Gender

01:28:27 The Community Now

Join us as we sit down with the legendary Greg Hughes, a seasoned climber and guide, for a deep dive into the world of rock and ice climbing. Greg shares his experiences climbing in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, discussing his early adventures, his insufferable ice climbing habit, and his passion for route development.

We also touch on his involvement with local climbing organizations like Ascent New Brunswick and his current life of chasing climbing adventures around the globe. This episode is packed with inspiring stories, practical climbing insights, and a glimpse into the bonds that build a climbing community. Listen up for Greg's tips on improving climbing skills and maintaining a lifelong passion for the sport.

Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes

Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 I'm an Amanita

01:29 Ice Climbing Origins

02:33 Discovering Cape Clear

07:02 Get your "Free Pass" Now

09:31 Favorite Cape Clear Lines

10:44 Main Face Rendezvous

12:09 7 Skills Every Climber Should Know

14:47 NOLs and Teaching

15:59 Remember Why We Climb

18:07 Longevity Beyond Grade Chasing

24:52 Living the Climbing Life

27:30 Climbing Vagabond

28:51 Ascent New Brunswick

32:32 Hug a Route Developer Today

35:51 Ice And Mountain Highlights

38:19 Where to Next?

One of the most passionate, innovative and elusive climbers among us,  Dave dedicated almost a decade and half of his life to climb and document every single boulder problem in Nova Scotia.  His work was captured in the highly popular online bouldering guide called "Mobeta" - complete with interactive maps and beta videos.  And his youtube site documents his ongoing evolution as a climber and development of innovative finger training devices.

Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes

Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

05:28 The Birth of Mo Beta

10:42 Innovations in Training

21:30 No Funswick

23:40 Return to Halifax

31:02 The Refined Line - V11

32:44 Grading Controversies

43:50 Digital vs. Printed Guidebooks

51:27 Winter Climbing Secrets

01:00:19 Climbing Hacks

01:07:37 Innovative Training Devices

01:10:29 The Hand of God: From Concept to Market

01:15:26 The Local Scene

01:19:06 Challenges of Hard Bouldering

01:27:58 An Evolving Climbing Philosophy

01:33:36 Conclusion

https://mobeta.ca/⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Mobeta

Emily Currie is the epitome of strength and resilience.  In this conversation she recounts the last tumultuous 12 months:  battling cancer, and somehow finding energy after multiple surgeries and treatments to shoot, release and tour a celebrated short film about three women bouldering on Dover Island.  We also get behind the scenes on the media side of promoting our local bouldering gym as well as the thrill of climbing and errrrrrr horse-back riding?!

⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes

⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Icebox

02:57 Seven Bays Media Manager

05:27 Weightlifting to Climbing

10:36 Outdoor vs Indoor

15:31 Instagrammin'

22:30 Women in Sport

23:45 Unexpected Challenges

31:24 Filming on Dover Island

37:09 20 Grit Film Tour Launch

43:44 Bouldering Projects

44:35 Rallying to the End

Quietly crushing granite and inspiring all of us with her feline ways, Samantha Peverill joins me for Episode 3 to (reluctantly) share the story of her 5.13 sending spree last year of local test pieces. A feat that - to my knowledge - has not been accomplished before by any Nova Scotian climber!! Episode drops on Thursday on all major streaming platforms.

⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes⁠⁠

⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links⁠

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:26 Finding Motivation

09:53 Early Climbing Experiences

14:09 Balancing Climbing and Frisbee

16:40 Training & "Weight Stuff"

23:30 Dynamic Climbing

29:00 Lattice Training

31:43 Learning to Try Hard

36:45 5.13 Triple Crown

46:16 Role Model Reflections

50:00 Exploring New Projects

55:41 Favorite Climbing Routes

01:03:46 Climbing Community and Identity

01:09:37 Final Thoughts