Whiteman Falls 2007
95m IV, WI 6
March 17, 2007
Peter, Hedd-wyn

Absolutely brilliant! Hedd-wyn and I got a very early start, and did the approach in the dark. We had prepared to ski in, but the snow turned out to be very well consolidated from the recent warm temperatures, so we just walked the 5km of road. After the exciting approach through the canyon, we rounded a corner and there it was! What an impressive looking climb.

The first pitch has really wild mushrooms. Hedd-wyn was going to do the second (grade 6) pitch, so I wanted to do the first, which is easier. The book calls it a "deceptively hard and technical" pitch, and it definitely presented interesting climbing through some small overhangs created by the mushrooms. After some fun climbing, I got to a nice belay cave and brought Hedd-wyn up. After getting a breather, he stepped around the pillar on dead vertical ground, and gave 'er! What a wild pitch. It consisted of a vertical straw with running ice behind it... neat! After carefully finishing the pitch, he put me on belay and it was my turn! After a very solid workout, I made the top and took some pictures, after which we rappelled down. Surprisingly, it was only 1 double rope rappel to the bottom, with some easy downclimbing. After slogging out to the car, we made it back to Calgary quite early. A memorable day!

  Hedd-wyn in the approach canyon Hedd-wyn in the approach canyon Whiteman Falls visible on the left - wow!  

  Me at the base of the route Whiteman Falls Whiteman Falls  

  Me checking out the giant mushrooms up-close Me checking out the giant mushrooms up-close Me checking out the giant mushrooms up-close  

  Me checking out the giant mushrooms up-close Hedd-wyn almost at the belay cave (1st pitch) overhanging ice!  

  Hedd-wyn cranking on the vertical pillar Hedd-wyn cranking on the vertical pillar  

  Hedd-wyn belaying Looking down on the climb Nice view of Kananaskis Lakes  

  rappelling the route  

  rappelling the route Whiteman Falls Whiteman Falls  

  Whiteman Falls (2nd pitch) Going back down Descending the wild canyon  

  Descending the wild canyon Going down the neat canyon  

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