Will Gadd climbs frozen Niagara Falls
On January 27, 2015 professional ice climber Will Gadd climbed the frozen Niagara Falls.
Lots of people have gone down the falls, but Gadd is the first person to go up them, at least legally. Watch the video of his amazing first ascent.
Gadd worked with the New York State Parks department to climb the falls safely. The route would not have been possible without the warm winter weather – with cold temperatures the constant spray of water would have made hypothermia a very big risk.
He took a look at the route in the summer, which was covered with a torrential downpour that time of year. But this year, the cold winter weather slowed the water flow until it froze, and allowed climbable ice to form.
The line sits on the American side of the horseshoe section of the Niagara, in an area known as Terrapin point. It extends approximately 147 feet from bottom to top.
Gadd led the route he graded as WI6+, and said the massive water flow shakes the whole climb making it shaky and unpredictable. One of the greatest challenges was not getting soaked. He said he was so close to the falls, he could stick his ice axe out into the water. At one point, he was behind the falls, climbing ice that froze behind the falls.
“I got a whole lot of Niagara behind my neck!” Said Gadd.
Will Gadd is a Canadian ice climber, paraglider pilot and adventurer who lives in Canmore, Alberta.
- How to experience the world while isolated at home - April 21, 2020
- How to prevent and treat hypothermia - February 21, 2019
- How to layer with your down jacket - November 28, 2018
We write rarely, but only the best content.
