A man has taken advantage of Britain's cold snap to climb a frozen waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales. Mick Ellerton, 48, scaled the icy cascade at Gordale Scar, near Malham Cove, on Wednesday after temperatures dropped low enough for it to freeze over.
Ellerton, an instructor at Lost Earth Adventures and a volunteer with the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, described the climb as a rare opportunity. 'I've done it probably three times in the last six years. So it very rarely comes into condition,' he said.
The feat comes as Storm Goretti is set to bring severe snow and winds of up to 90mph to parts of the UK on Thursday. The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings, with heavy snowfall already causing thousands of school closures and cutting off some remote northern communities.
Ellerton, who began ice climbing as a child in Australia and now lives in Skipton, North Yorkshire, said the climbs help maintain his rescue skills. 'It gives me that joy of being out, we call it that type one fun, when we're out on the mountains. But it also helps to keep my skills fresh for mountain rescue,' he said.
He urged others to explore the countryside safely and with proper equipment. 'It's about being hill smart. It's great for your physical and mental health, and it's an awesome place to be. As long as people are getting out there safely, I'm all for it,' he added.
