This week, ice climbers Will Gadd and Sarah Hueniken became the first to ascend the Niagara Falls in its frozen state. According to National Geographic, the pair climbed a 30-foot-wide (9-meter) strip of rotten spray ice that formed along the left edge of Horseshoe Falls, which is the largest of Niagara's three major sections. Horseshoe Falls is also considered to be the most powerful waterfall in the world.

Supposedly, energy drink maker Red Bull sponsored the ice climbing feat, but kept quiet about it as it planned to publicize it after the Super Bowl. However, when word of the climb leaked, the company released the news.

CNN reports that the climbers used only ice hooks to scale the frozen cliffs. Gadd planned ahead, stating, "I checked out the spot we were thinking of climbing in the summer. You'd be swept away by the torrential downpour then. On a warm winter (day), there's no climb here."

However, he did end up having to climb next to a downpour. Though he and Hueniken climbed a frozen spray of ice, 681,750 gallons of water per second surged down Horseshoe Falls right next to him. He stated, "That climb beat me up. I may have reached the top, but Niagara won the war. At the end of the day I was hypothermic."

The 47-year-old climber continued, "The power of the falls is staggering... It vibrates your intestines and makes you feel very, very small. I've never experienced anything like it." Hueniken, who is 34 years old, said she spent hours huddled in an ice cave part way up the route to avoid being hit with chunks of ice. She then went on to follow Gadd's lead and reach the top.

Hueniken grew up near Niagara Falls, and has always been drawn to them. She stated, "As a kid, I always felt drawn to the edge of the falls. I think its human nature to be curious about gravity and to wonder what it would feel like to go over. It's a weird thing, but anyone who has been to the falls knows the feeling. This place has a kind of power over people."