A new short film captures the dramatic beauty and challenge of ice climbing at one of the sport’s best Northeast destinations.
The film “East Coast Ice” from VAGRANTS—the studio that has created such East Coast ski flicks as “Made Back East“—was filmed in Lake Willoughby, Vermont, a spot that has one of the greatest concentrations of steep ice climbing in North America.
Made in partnership with Arc’teryx, the 60-second brand film follows local Arc’teryx brand ambassadors Patrick Cooke and Jordan Revis as they climb routes that are as fleeting as they are unforgiving—sometimes lasting only days before melting away.
The film leans into urgency and tenacity, as the climbers tackled the Glass Menagerie climb over two days in hazardous conditions.
Director Beau Gaughran had to wait for a narrow weather window to capture the climbs safely and authentically, working against shifting ice conditions and New England’s unpredictable winter light.
The film blends documentary realism with cinematic polish, elevated by colorist Lennon Mapes, who emphasized the vivid blue tones of the ice to heighten contrast and texture.
Watch the film here:
