Photo: Christian Pondella
An amazing accomplishment!
Daredevil Will Gadd has made history by climbing a frozen Niagara Falls. Gadd used ice axes, crampons and a specially-designed ice hook to climb the falls.
Niagara Falls is the most famous waterfall in the entire world. The falls, which straddle the border of Canada and the United States, welcome 20 million visitors a year and are a national landmark for both countries – one of the world’s first tourist attractions, and simply put, a wonder of nature.
Plenty of people have gone down the falls over the years but Will Gadd – recently named a Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year – is the first person to ever go UP the falls. How? Well, he’s one of the world’s best ice climbers, and Niagara Falls was frozen.
At least, Niagara was frozen enough to climb. “I checked out the spot we were thinking of climbing in the summer,” Gadd said. “You’d be swept away by the torrential downpour then.” But this year’s cold winter slowed water flow, allowing climbable ice to form. “On a warm winter, there’s no climb here.”
The massive water flow constantly shakes the ground, and makes the ice shelves and walls around you unsteady and unpredictable
After working with NYS Parks Department and NYS Parks Police, Gadd and his team were able to create a comprehensive plan to ensure the climb could be done safely and the necessary precautions were taken to protect the natural environment, as he put the final touch on one of his most epic years ever as a climber. “It’s one of the most visited places in North America,” Gadd said. “We have to treat it as a jewel, or it won’t work.”
There were two priorities for the climb – ethics, and safety. “We’re doing it on natural protection,” Gadd said. “No bolts. There won’t be one thing left in the ice that wasn’t there to begin with, and that’s the best possible way to do it.” The line – which sits on the American side of the Horseshoe section of Niagara, near what’s known as Terrapin Point – extends approximately 147 feet from bottom to top.
It’s a harsh environment and an intense challenge to stay attached to the wall, let alone climb it
It’s not easy ice, either. “The ice is formed in layers,” Gadd said. “That means there’s a layer of ice, then snow (with a lot of air), then another layer of ice. It’s unstable, for sure.” Will estimates the grade at WI6+, as hard as it gets for this style of climbing. Tools he used include ice axes, crampons, and a specially-designed Black Diamond prototype “ice hook.”
Photo: Christian Pondella
The post Climbing Frozen Niagara Falls appeared first on Common Sense Evaluation.