
Canadian climber Will Gadd becomes first person to climb frozen Niagara Falls
Canadian adventurer Will Gadd has become the first person to climb up an ice-covered Niagara Falls. The Canmore, Alta. native made history on Jan. 27 after he scaled Niagara’s Horseshow Falls along with his climbing partner and girlfriend, 34-year-old Sarah Hueniken.
"It's one of the toughest things I've done in my life and one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen," Will told CTV Toronto.
The 47-year-old mountaineer had been training for six to eight months for the climb, which only took one hour to complete. Afterwards, he celebrated his extraordinary ascent with a joyous tweet.
Will told Redbull.com that the climb was made possible due to this year’s especially cold winter, which froze the fall’s typical torrential downpour to ice.
A couple of days ago, I had an improbable wild dream come true thanks to an amazing team of people who believed... http://t.co/9NKU5ZO4th
— Will Gadd (@Gilwad) January 29, 2015
"On a warm winter, there's no climb here,” he said.
Still, the sheer power of the falls made for a dangerous challenge. Approximately 150 tons of water pour over the biggest water fall in the world every minute, and Will said it felt like he was climbing inside a cloud of mist.
"The power of the falls is staggering,” he told National Geographic. “It vibrates your intestines and makes you feel very, very small. I've never experienced anything like it."
Will was named one of National Geographic's 2015 Adventurers of the Year after embarking on a 35-day paragliding trip across the Rockies last year. In 2014, he also ascended British Colombia’s Helmcken Falls, a 141-metre journey that is considered one the most difficult climbs in the world.