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Endless Ascent: 24 Hours of Ice

November 23, 2009 Climb No Comments

Canadian Will Gadd, never at a loss for energy or creativity, will attempt to climb near-vertical ice for 24 hours straight during the Ouray Ice Festival in early January as a benefit for the Ridgway-based dZi Foundation. During this Endless Ascent, Gadd will be climbing the classic Pick O’ the Vic, a 150-foot WI4. If he hangs on to complete the route three times an hour for 24 hours, he’ll be right around 11,000 vertical feet. That’s a big day.

Gadd lives in Canmore, near the heart of Canadian Rockies ice climbing, but there hasn’t been enough good ice in shape for serious training so far this winter. So Gadd screwed a 16-foot, $72 (Canadian), plywood training wall to a tree behind his house, and now he’s doing laps. And you thought too much time at the climbing gym was boring.

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  • Jamie Jones: The secret chute was only a secret top all you easterners....
  • Jeff: Awesome!!!! Are they ever going to be published in book form! These stories need to be made into a movie!!!!...
  • Karen D McCall: What a story, I read every word, absolutely enthralled. As an aging outdoor enthusiast headed for hip replacement, I can...
  • Kirk Miller: New rats in the Platte. Well done sir....
  • Dale: I met Clerin Zumwalt hiking on the Long's Peak trail back in the 1990's. He was with his family and was wearing his RMNP...
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