Well that's a new one! I have never encountered pachysandra with a propensity to climb. In fact, I'd have to question how it manages to do so, as it has no vining tendrils or holdfasts with which to adhere to vertical surfaces. It is generally listed as a low growing (to 1') evergreen groundcover, perhaps a bit aggressive in its spreading habits. Are you sure that's what you have?

It can pose a problem growing up trees (if that is indeed the case - obviously something is). Since it is evergreen and rather dense, it can hold moisture against the trunk, promoting rots. Lack of air circulation around the trunk is not good, either. If it is pachy, it should be very easy to remove - just pull it off. Keep it sheared back a reasonable distance from the trunk - a foot or so all the way around.

Depending on where you live, Virginia creeper may be a plant to avoid for invasiveness reasons. As it is a true vine, it will want to grow upwards and will do so on any vertical surface it encounters, including the side of your house if it is in its way.

When we first moved in my mother told me that it was vinca, however it has never flowered (we've been here 2 years this weekend) so I went looking, trying to identify it. It matches the picture of pachysandra. It does seem to be a vine though... The pachysandra does not grow up the house like the creeper, just up the trees. I could try to pull it off, but the vines or branches are pretty large, and I couldn't reach but 1/3 withoug buying a larger ladder than we own. Do you have any other ideas about what it is if it's not pachysandra?

I don't think it is Pachysandra. I have it around several trees and it just creeps along the ground even though it has the oppertunity to go up the trunk.
A way to identify - The roots or runners should be thick soft and milky white. Very pliable with smaller hair-like feeder roots growing out.