UKC

Wolverine - The World's Hardest Ice Route?Video

© Black Diamond (screen shot from video)
Tim Emmett on Wolverine - the world's first WI11?  © Black Diamond (screen shot from video)
Tim Emmett on Wolverine - the world's first WI11?
© Black Diamond (screen shot from video)
In this excellent video we see British climber Tim Emmett in action at Helmcken Falls, British Columbia on what could well be the hardest pitch of 'ice' climbing in the world.

Tim, along with Klemen Premrl, completed the super impressive route Spray On ... Top! last winter, which climbs the full height of the waterfall in several pitches (see UKC News). The pair also added a single pitch route named Wolverine , which is a bolted sport ice climb and is graded WI11!

Normal ice routes go up to around WI7 or WI7+, but due to the super steep nature of the spray ice at Helmcken Falls, which is unique in style, the grades for these routes are a few notches higher. These routes are obviously extremely athletic and unlike normal ice climbing.


Tim Emmett is sponsored by Black Diamond , Scarpa , Mountain Hardwear , Sterling Rope , Adidas Eyewear , Yamgo .

 


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10 Jan, 2013
bonkers
10 Jan, 2013
Worth watching right to the end of the credits, I think the camera man may have shat his pants
16 Jan, 2013
What grade did Gadd give the first line they did there? Wasn't it WI9 or something? Anyway I thought these were meant to be like M grades, in that they show how physically hard the route is - not really danger/size/commitment; but because the climbing is all on ice - not rock - they put the WI bit back.
16 Jan, 2013
ding, ding... we have a winner... Oh, and waterfall grades are for when the line is in good/normal conditions.
16 Jan, 2013
Yep properly mental , as ever Mr Emmett and Co make it look like crazy fun ! Respect due I think . Mega .
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