Climbers Scale Frozen Wall Behind 450ft Waterfall

Helmcken Falls is located in Wells Grey Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada - and some claim it offers the wildest, steepest and most difficult ice climbing in the world.

Tim Emmett from London and Klemen Premrl from Slovenia became the second team to climb the Overhead Hazard route – named for the proximity of the thundering waterfall to the climbing route.

The pair battled with ice spray, the risk of hyperthermia, and the fear of a frozen 100ft-deep ice hole below, to complete the challenge.

Tim and Klemen spent three days inspecting the different sections of the route and had one day to make the difficult ascent.

The wall’s unique combination of challenges makes it one of the most difficult - and spectacular in the world.

The route was first climbed by Will Gadd and his team in late January this year and was repeated by Tim and Klemen on the February 21.

Tim said: "It’s by far the most difficult winter climb that I have ever tried. I haven’t heard of anything that comes close to it in terms of sustained difficulty, and overhanging terrain. It’s outrageous.

“Klem and I had three days to inspect each pitch and then one day to climb it.

“It was a visionary move by Gadd and massive achievement for him and his team, Sarah Hueniken, John Freeman and Katie Bono to establish such a wild, hostile and technically difficult route.

“They had to endure savage conditions and temperatures as low as -35C.

“Klem and I were in the right place at the right time to go for the second ascent. It was beyond what we thought might be possible.”