# Gabe Lawson's V16 Lie

> Canadian climber Gabe Lawson claimed to send Canada's hardest boulder as V16 but was a scammer.
- Title: Gabe Lawson's V16 Lie · Climbing | Shortify
- Summary: Canadian climber Gabe Lawson claimed to send Canada's hardest boulder as V16 but was a scammer. Gabe Lawson falsely claimed to send Canada's first V16…
- Keywords: gabriel zukiwski, gabe lawson, squamish, climbing, v16, boulder, kickstarter, scam, power chalk, power spot, climbing community, the megg
- Source: Climbing — https://climbing.com/culture-climbing/gabe-lawson
- Author: Owen Clarke
- Published: 2026-09-29T15:35:03+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: gabriel zukiwski, gabe lawson, squamish, climbing, v16, boulder, kickstarter, scam, power chalk, power spot, climbing community, the megg
## The Megg V16 Claim
In 2023, Gabe Lawson claimed to send Canada’s first V16 boulder, The Megg, a 20-foot granite problem in Squamish.

> The Megg
## Lawson’s Social Media Boom
Lawson created an Instagram account within days of his V16 claim, racking up thousands of followers and launching businesses.
## The Megg Repeat
By early 2023, American climber Andy Lamb repeated The Megg, suggesting it was no harder than V14.

> The Megg
## Lawson’s Van Deal
Lawson promised to buy Ethan Salvo’s van for $2,500 CAD but never paid the $1,000 deposit after Salvo gave him the vehicle.

> $2,500 CAD
## The Power Chalk Scam
Lawson’s friend Sam Duffy invested $900 in Power Chalk but received no payment after Lawson disappeared with the funds.

> $900
## The Escape Box Scam
Lawson launched a Kickstarter for an Escape Box puzzle game that raised $51,931 but never delivered the product.

> $51,931
## The Vacuum Theft
Lawson stole an $800 Dyson vacuum cleaner from Jack Nixon’s home after claiming to be a friend.

> $800
## The Financial Scam
In 2018, a Quebec tribunal found Gabriel Zukiwski-Lawson guilty of securities fraud for a fake investment company.

> Gabriel Zukiwski-Lawson
## The V16 Lie
Lawson claimed to send The Singularity (V15) and The Megg (V16) but never climbed harder than V12.

> The Singularity
## The Van Sale
Lawson sold Salvo’s $1,000 Jackery portable power station from the van he was supposed to buy.

> $1,000
## The Scam Pattern
Lawson created multiple businesses, crowdfunded projects, and never delivered products or services.
## The V16 Claim
Lawson proposed V16 for The Megg, claiming it was the hardest boulder problem in Canada.

> V16
## The Scam Unraveled
Ethan Salvo discovered Lawson’s scams after he disappeared, leaving friends with unpaid debts.
## The V16 Lie
Lawson’s V16 claim for The Megg was a lie, as he never sent the problem and was a scammer.

> The Megg
## The Scam Impact
Lawson’s scams affected the climbing community, with friends owing him money and no refunds.
## The Scam Conclusion
Lawson disappeared after scamming multiple people, leaving no trace in Squamish.
## Key takeaway

Gabe Lawson falsely claimed to send Canada's first V16 boulder but was a scammer who disappeared after defrauding multiple people.