A January cold snap in Squamish, British Columbia, meant ice formations were coming up all around the valley. Ice climbers were out on the hunt in full force, getting after it while the getting was good.
Chasing ice: Climbers paddle to winter wonderland
As a professional adventure photographer, I’m always looking for the next spectacular shot. The day before venturing on this wild trip, I hiked into scenic Mamquam Falls. Through the icy spray, I spied hanging daggers and frozen fangs clinging to the overhanging rock-face amphitheater—an ice extravaganza.
I went home, made a few phone calls, and rallied a team together. It was essential to make this vision come to life. Ice climbing spots are short-lived in our temperate rainforest zone; they are there one day and gone the next. This scene was so unique and special because it might only form once every 10 years.
With the stoke on, the team soon swelled to five and we had a full safety crew. Because sharp objects, like crampons and ice axes, are not the best mix with inflatable paddleboards and drysuits, we packed along a piece of plywood for each board so we could have something to step on to access the ice while wearing our crampons and without risking blowing a hole in our boards.
I had been up to the falls from the bottom a few times on my paddleboard to establish rock climbing routes in the summer, so I was familiar with the access, but now the rocky riverbank was covered in ice. We arrived at the access, armed with our plywood, inflatable paddleboards, drysuits, PFDs, and all the climbing and ice gear essentials. We paddled upriver to start and then climbed a short little pitch, a mix of snow, rock and ice, hauling up our gear and boards behind us.
When we reached the upper falls, we paddled into the cauldron of water at the base of the raging falls, surrounded by hanging daggers of ice. It was a playground like no other.
We all had a go shuttling our climbing crew across the river to attempt the frozen icicles dripping off the falls. This was Valterai Rantala’s very first time ice climbing. After his climb, he took the cold plunge of reward, as seen in this photo. I don’t know what was more exciting—climbing up or jumping down.
Climbing in a mist of spray, hanging off tools, clinging to the ice and being surrounded by an orchestra of colors and sounds was mind-blowing. I’m so grateful for days like these and having an incredible team of adventure-seeking friends to make it happen.
Jim Martinello’s photography and film work have been published worldwide, including in National Geographic,Outside, Outpost, Mountain Life, and many more.
This article was first published in the Summer 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Cold play. | Feature photo: Jimmy Martinello
