Legendary Ice Climber Will Gadd Discovers Drastic Impacts of Climate Change

Red Bull’s all-new adventure documentary that captures legendary ice climber Will Gadd’s return to Kilimanjaro, spotlighting the drastic impact of climate change and rapid ice glacier melting on Africa’s highest point.

The Last Ascent is a 45-minute film that chronicles Gadd’s first trip to Kilimanjaro in 2014, where he left in awe of the mountain’s unique glacier formations. More importantly, Gadd learned back then that due to climate change, these massive ice sculptures were quickly declining and could completely disappear in just a few years.

 

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six years ago, @realwillgadd made several first ascents of Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice towers ? but now, as the mountain’s iconic ice cap disappears, he returned to make one last ascent ??‍♀️ watch the full documentary over on Red Bull TV ~link in bio~ ?:: @christianpondella redbull #givesyouwings #thelastascent #kilimanjaro #adventure #iceclimbing #africa #explore #climbing

A post shared by Red Bull (@redbull) on Sep 9, 2020 at 5:57am PDT

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Fast forward to February 2020, and Gadd travels back to Kilimanjaro planning to be the last person to climb the iconic Messner route before it melted out forever. Instead, after witnessing firsthand the ice decline of Kilimanjaro, Gadd left in shock and a newfound responsibility to educate others on the global impacts of climate change.

Will Gadd prepares fo his climb on Mt Kilimanjaro on 15 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300013 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd on Mt Kilimanjaro on 20 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300044 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd and Sarah Hueniken on Mt Kilimanjaro on 20 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300045 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd poses for a portrait on Mt Kilimanjaro on 20 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300049 // Usage for editorial use only //

Mt Kilimanjaro on 20 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300052 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd and team climb on Mt Kilimanjaro on 21 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300056 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd and team climb on Mt Kilimanjaro on 21 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300057 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs Mt Kilimanjaro on 22 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300060 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd and Doug Hardy climb Mt Kilimanjaro on 22 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300066 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs on the Furtwangler Glacier on Mt Kilimanjaro on 22 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300068 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd departs camp on Mt Kilimanjaro on 23 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300073 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs on the Furtwangler Glacier on Mt Kilimanjaro on 23 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300075 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd and Doug Hardy do research on Mt Kilimanjaro on 23 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300086 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs the Northern Icefield on Mt Kilimanjaro on 24 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300110 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs the Northern Icefield on Mt Kilimanjaro on 24 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300115 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd at the Eastern Icefield on Mt Kilimanjaro on 25 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300122 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd climbs the Eastern Icefield on Mt Kilimanjaro on 25 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300127 // Usage for editorial use only //

Will Gadd paraglides near the summit on Mt Kilimanjaro on 26 February, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300150 // Usage for editorial use only //

Scientists estimate that these glaciers have lost upwards of 70% of their mass since Gadd’s first journey up Kilimanjaro. Comparing the human-scale imagery captured of Gadd’s ascent in 2014 with 2020, it reveals a stunning juxtaposition of just how quickly the ice has disappeared.

Detail of a side-by-side comparison of Will Gadd on Mt Kilimanjaro on 1 April, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300155 // Usage for editorial use only //

Detail of a side-by-side comparison of Will Gadd on Mt Kilimanjaro on 1 April, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300156 // Usage for editorial use only //

Detail of a side-by-side comparison of Will Gadd on Mt Kilimanjaro on 1 April, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300161 // Usage for editorial use only //

Detail of a side-by-side comparison of Will Gadd on Mt Kilimanjaro on 1 April, 2020 in Tanzania, Africa. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202005300162 // Usage for editorial use only //

To learn more you can watch the full film linked above or on the official Redbull website here.