How to Ice Climb With BD Athlete Will Gadd

• Posted on 3 November 2024
• By Black Diamond
• 0

BD Athlete Will Gadd is a legend. A true pioneer in the world of ice climbing, he's been integral to the development of the sport, from the tools we swing to the routes we climb. In this series, Gadd shares his tips and tricks to winter climbing, from the basics to advanced techniques.

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips Episode 1—Using Your Feet

Good feet are the basis for solid, safe, and fun ice movement, but getting solid feet on ice is a slippery process for most. In this episode, we discuss how to kick, unweight your crampons, and why your crampons are probably set up wrong.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 2—Where and How to Swing Your Tools

Where you swing your ice tools is as important as how you swing them. Each ice placement is really a mini-belay; make it solid, efficient and smooth.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 3—Steep Ice Technique

Good basic ice technique is the foundation for steeper ice climbing. The bad news is that most ice climber suck at basic technique. The good news is that good technique can be learned fast and makes the whole sport a lot more fun and safer. 

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 4—Drytooling 101

Drytooling puts the mixed in mixed climbing, but it’s not intuitive. Here are some simple tricks to evaluate placements even if you can’t see the hold, and the three most common types of placements (edges, cracks, steins).

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

 Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 5—Advanced Drytooling

Fun with steel and rock continued. How to get up the wild and weird.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 6—Placing Ice Screws

How not to get screwed placing ice screws. Strength, length, size, and style.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 7—Pulling the Bulge

More people have probably fallen off pulling over bulges while ice climbing than anywhere else. They are awkward, tricky, and definitely the enemy. How to battle the bulge successfully.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 8—Threaded Ice Anchors

How to get a good threaded ice anchor. Pros and cons of different materials, configurations, and how not to die on the descent.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd

Will Gadd’s Ice Climbing Tech Tips: Episode 9—How to Sharpen Your Ice Picks

How to keep your picks working well and avoid the most common sharpening errors.

—BD Athlete Will Gadd