Ice Climbers Cheat Death As Frozen Waterfall Collapses Next To Them During Daredevil Climb!!!!!!!

by **J The Kidd** Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:17 am

These climbers got more than they bargained for during this daredevil climb of a frozen waterfall in the Japanese Alps.

Attempting to scale the notoriously tricky ice waterfalls on the
northern island of Hokkaido, Austrian adventurers Albert Leichtfried
and Markus Bendler encountered a lucky escape 100 metres above the
ground.

Situated near Sounkyo, Hokkaido's ice climbing centre, the climber's
braved temperatures of -10 degrees as they began their ascent of this
frozen waterfall.

However as they neared the summit the two climbers found themselves
tantalisingly close to death when an unexpected roof of ice broke away
above them, falling just yards from their precarious position.

'We were about 100 meters high and we noticed how weird formed ice with
icicles growing in every direction,' recalls 32-year-old Albert, who
has 12 years climbing experience.

'We were highly motivated to do the first ascent of this spectacular waterfall.

'After we chose our line to climb, we abseiled down into the abyss. But
after some meters of climbing a rumbling shocked us, the giant throw a
monstrous load of ice against us.

Ice Climbers Cheat Death As Frozen Waterfall Collapses Next To Them During Daredevil Climb!!!!!!! FUCKYOUPAYMEMOSTUNDERRATEDOVERWORKEDUNDERPAID

'An ice roof fell down and crashed some meters to the right of us into thousands of boulders.'

The two climber, accompanied by their friend an photographer, Hermann
Erber companion had travelled to Japan in search of the country's ice
climbing potential.

Making the first ascent of Lector WI7 at Chiyoshibetu, the trio
travelled to other areas such as Raiden, Sounkyo and Abashiri,
experiencing a culture far removed from what they have become used to.

Ice Climbers Cheat Death As Frozen Waterfall Collapses Next To Them During Daredevil Climb!!!!!!! FUCKYOUPAYMEMOSTUNDERRATEDOVERWORKEDUNDERPAID

Making the first ascent of Lector WI7 at Chiyoshibetu, the trio
travelled to other areas such as Raiden, Sounkyo and Abashiri,
experiencing a culture far removed from what they have become used to.

However it was their encounter at this frozen waterfall that proved to be their toughest adversary.

Shaken by the fall, the climbers decided to take evasive action and taken another rout.

'We discussed what would be the best to do,' reveals Albert.

Ice Climbers Cheat Death As Frozen Waterfall Collapses Next To Them During Daredevil Climb!!!!!!! FUCKYOUPAYMEMOSTUNDERRATEDOVERWORKEDUNDERPAID

'At the end we decided to take the safest way which was to flee over the drift ice.

'We were disappointed about the lost fight but happy at the same time
to have finished this day without any injuries we hopped off.'