Thin Ice
AJ 35 FEATURE

Thin Ice

On a mission improbable, axes, crampons, and inflatable paddleboards leave little room for error

Photos by Jimmy Martinello

The Idea

The phone rang. It was my good friend Jimmy Martinello, who also lives in Squamish, British Columbia. He’s a keener, and always has an idea or mission on the go. Sure enough, this call was no different.

“Timmy, I think there’s ice on the side walls of Mamquam Falls right now. I’m going in there today with Matt Maddaloni and Valleri to see if we can climb it. Do you want to join us?”

“How are you going to get in there, on paddleboards?” I replied, adding, “Are you taking ropes?”

“Yes, on SUPs, but not taking ropes. Thinking deep-water solo style!” Jimmy replied.

Mamquam Falls is close to Squamish, tucked into the lush forest of western Canada. Though once lesser known, Mamquam has become increasingly popular with kayakers and hikers for its beauty and relative ease of access. In the spring and summer, tourists are common. Jimmy and I had climbed new routes there in the warm weather and one

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