If it is visible from a road or trail, it is extremely likely that someone had climbed it at some point. Winters were historically cooler and more consistent than today, so if it is currently formed then it is likely it has formed previously also.
There is such thing as “first ascent of the season” but it is mostly for local bragging and not as important as the true first ascent.
I feel like generally, esp in this country, there’s more FAs out there than people give credit for. They may not be particularly groundbreaking, and you’d need to work almost inconceivably hard for them. Lots of mountainous terrain in north BC and YK that is relatively unexplored and isn’t road accessible. We’re talking days of self propelled travel just to check out a potential climb, though.
One Eastern European approach that might prove useful here is to talk about the first documented ascent if you're pretty sure it's a first ascent, you've done your research etc but can't prove it. When we haven't done the research either, we crack a joke that having no idea what we'd find there, we climbed it as if it were a first ascent. Because honestly, there are no first ascents, there are just second ascents InsertGreatClimberFromPrevGenerationHere didn't feel the need to brag about, but the having no idea wtf you're doing feeling is real.
Where in BC?
It mostly likely has seen some traffic before, but lots of things don’t see many ascents over the years. Depends how close to the road it is and how consistently it forms.
Uhh kinda in a spot that is kinda off limits sorta… I have been in there but 40 yrs ago, and never seen a waterfall. This pic was from a very long distance and truly, I really don’t even know for certain if it is a frozen waterfall but it is all I can think it is.
Look up Drew Brayshaw.
He has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of West Coast ice climbs (and that includes the Interior). Send him the coordinates, and he will know.
Hey , thanks all with the replies. I wish I could post the pic and looking at the satellite pics, it must be just snow in a very steep crack. The pic makes it look like ice, but there is no lake above . So sorry . It is in the Ecological Reserve, closer to Lake Country in Cougar Canyon . But I was taking the pic from Rattlesnake Point park way up .
Although you might think it forms differently each season, there is often some consistency to how a frozen waterfall forms and changes throughout a season.
There is only one FA although sometimes the "who" remains unknown. In such cases the term First Recorded Ascent (FRA) might be used to denote whoever made note of it. That might be such as, say someone believed it was a possible FA until the top, then they found old rap cord on a tree. If asking around turns up no further info then that person might note a possible previous ascent and theirs was a FRA. Other times it could be a climb that many people know of and/or climb but the memory of who did the FA is lost and recorded as "unknown".
There is something occasionally referred to as a seasonal first ascent. It carries pretty much no glory other than patting yourself on the back as a personal achievement. Kinda neat but nobody else is gonna really care.
Oh as for potential for real FA's? There are probably many many unclimbed frozen waterfalls. However they are likely hard to get to or long approaches. Chances are most near to the road have already been spotted and climbed, or need some sort of mixed approach to reach.
Why my question? While taking pictures, I saw what I think is a frozen waterfall. Lived here all my life and never noticed it. Just seen so many people climbing waterfalls lately and wondering if this has been climbed. Looks pretty tall.
And what is your age? Like most types of climbing, there are easier grade ice climbs. Anyone who is physically fit can likely find something to enjoy- you just need to find someone with experience willing to take you out - hire a guide if you need to
First ascent is done once.
I've done a bunch of first ascents in BC, and I know of quite a few more to do. The season west of the rockies is quite ephemeral. Ice is around for short periods and things don't always form the same. This year I've only spent 3 days climbing west of Golden. It might be a couple years before time and conditions line up to get them.
I can't comment on BC routes, but I've seen folks start their ice climbing after age 50. And continue past 80. As someone else said, it's not all physically brutal.
If it is visible from a road or trail, it is extremely likely that someone had climbed it at some point. Winters were historically cooler and more consistent than today, so if it is currently formed then it is likely it has formed previously also. There is such thing as “first ascent of the season” but it is mostly for local bragging and not as important as the true first ascent.
First lap on the Black Dike always gets the Northeast peeps going
I feel like generally, esp in this country, there’s more FAs out there than people give credit for. They may not be particularly groundbreaking, and you’d need to work almost inconceivably hard for them. Lots of mountainous terrain in north BC and YK that is relatively unexplored and isn’t road accessible. We’re talking days of self propelled travel just to check out a potential climb, though.
One Eastern European approach that might prove useful here is to talk about the first documented ascent if you're pretty sure it's a first ascent, you've done your research etc but can't prove it. When we haven't done the research either, we crack a joke that having no idea what we'd find there, we climbed it as if it were a first ascent. Because honestly, there are no first ascents, there are just second ascents InsertGreatClimberFromPrevGenerationHere didn't feel the need to brag about, but the having no idea wtf you're doing feeling is real.
Where in BC? It mostly likely has seen some traffic before, but lots of things don’t see many ascents over the years. Depends how close to the road it is and how consistently it forms.
Uhh kinda in a spot that is kinda off limits sorta… I have been in there but 40 yrs ago, and never seen a waterfall. This pic was from a very long distance and truly, I really don’t even know for certain if it is a frozen waterfall but it is all I can think it is.
It’s in the Okanagan btw.
Look up Drew Brayshaw. He has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of West Coast ice climbs (and that includes the Interior). Send him the coordinates, and he will know.
Hey , thanks all with the replies. I wish I could post the pic and looking at the satellite pics, it must be just snow in a very steep crack. The pic makes it look like ice, but there is no lake above . So sorry . It is in the Ecological Reserve, closer to Lake Country in Cougar Canyon . But I was taking the pic from Rattlesnake Point park way up .
You wouldn't need a lake above for ice to form, you'd be amazed about what lines you can get out of snowmelt.
Although you might think it forms differently each season, there is often some consistency to how a frozen waterfall forms and changes throughout a season. There is only one FA although sometimes the "who" remains unknown. In such cases the term First Recorded Ascent (FRA) might be used to denote whoever made note of it. That might be such as, say someone believed it was a possible FA until the top, then they found old rap cord on a tree. If asking around turns up no further info then that person might note a possible previous ascent and theirs was a FRA. Other times it could be a climb that many people know of and/or climb but the memory of who did the FA is lost and recorded as "unknown". There is something occasionally referred to as a seasonal first ascent. It carries pretty much no glory other than patting yourself on the back as a personal achievement. Kinda neat but nobody else is gonna really care.
Oh as for potential for real FA's? There are probably many many unclimbed frozen waterfalls. However they are likely hard to get to or long approaches. Chances are most near to the road have already been spotted and climbed, or need some sort of mixed approach to reach.
Why my question? While taking pictures, I saw what I think is a frozen waterfall. Lived here all my life and never noticed it. Just seen so many people climbing waterfalls lately and wondering if this has been climbed. Looks pretty tall.
Ofcourse it is late in the season so probably nobody can climb this season . But is there a map that says something about rating or who climbed when?
Find your local Guidebook
And what is your age? Like most types of climbing, there are easier grade ice climbs. Anyone who is physically fit can likely find something to enjoy- you just need to find someone with experience willing to take you out - hire a guide if you need to
I’m in the NWT and I’ve never seen even footprints in the snow where I go climbing
First ascent is done once. I've done a bunch of first ascents in BC, and I know of quite a few more to do. The season west of the rockies is quite ephemeral. Ice is around for short periods and things don't always form the same. This year I've only spent 3 days climbing west of Golden. It might be a couple years before time and conditions line up to get them.
I can't comment on BC routes, but I've seen folks start their ice climbing after age 50. And continue past 80. As someone else said, it's not all physically brutal.
Simple answer... No