When the temperature stays cold for weeks, all of Peterson Creek Gorge freezes over.    Water may run under the ice and may even flow openly in open areas, but in the narrow canyon by Bridalveil Falls, the entire route to the falls is ice, with some rocky areas to scramble across, but any progress to the falls will have to include hiking on the ice.    This short hike is only for experienced scramblers or climbers with the right gear.    Ideally, hikers should have crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet.     I used spikes and a pole and I have done it this way a few times, but next time I will add the helmet and ice axe.

I had to traverse up on the ice 5 times, three of them on iced inclines.    I held on to rocks, but a fall is only a small mistake away.

I scrambled up to the base of the falls.   There is no spot to stand in full safety past the cave.

Coming back down is harder than going up.    I inched down to the lower canyon.

This is definitely not a recommended route and only suitable for a few scramblers who understand what is needed.

There are more frozen waterfalls to explore this month so return to this site for more posts.