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Two Men Are Making History By Free-Climbing 3000ft Up The Hardest Route In The World
For the first time ever, two men, 30-year-old Kevin Jorgeson and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell, will ascend one of the world’s largest and most difficult cliff-climbing routes in the world using only their hands and feet.
They are climbing El Capitan, a 3,000-foot-tall granite monolith in Yosemite National Park in California. This monolith has been climbed many times before, but they are ascending the Dawn Wall route, a sheer face of rock considered by many to be the longest and hardest free climb in the world.
Jorgeson and Caldwell are climbing with ropes, but these are used to protect them from falls, not as climbing aids. The razor-sharp holds on the rock wall tend to cut their fingers, so they spend occasional rest days in their tents, suspending them hundreds of feet up as they let their fingers heal.
More info: Facebook (Tommy) | Facebook (Kevin) | elcapreport.com (h/t: NYT, dailymail)
RELATED:
Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell are climbing a sheer 3,000-foot wall of granite on El Capitan in Yosemite
They are already almost half-way up, and they are sharing their journey with the world through Twitter and Facebook
It is considered by many to be the hardest climb in the world
In some places, they have nothing more than their finger-tips to hold them
They’ve had to tape and glue their fingers to help them heal from the wall’s razor-thin hand holds
They will be the first people ever to ascend this legendary route by free-climbing
They prefer climbing at dusk, when it’s too cold for their palms to sweat
The ropes these climbers use only serve as safety equipment – they do not help them climb
A supporting team has dropped them provisions and they use solar power for their devices
They’ve been climbing for 10 days and think they have about a week left. Be sure to follow their historic ascent on Facebook or Twitter!
Photos by Big UP Productions and Tom Evens
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What do you think ?
SandraAnderson 10 years ago
You're killin' me with this question :D in midair, I guess :D http://bit.ly/1w2Rywk
Load More Replies...
AndyPorter 10 years ago
Impressive, but Alex Hunnold climbed it in 3hrs with no rope at all!! check him out on you tube.
BethenyHawkins 10 years ago
Technically Alex Hunnold climbed the Regular North face of the Dome while it says these guys are climbing El Capitan. Both impressive feats!
Load More Replies...
RebeccaGianpicolo 10 years ago
May the Odds be in your favor congrats guys for making it this far can't wait to you make it to the top you guys are an inspiration!!!!
SoniaJacques 10 years ago
I am not sure whether to be amazed or horrified or both. Well you are half way up now guys so I am rooting for you!
BrunoGagnon 10 years ago
It's not dangerous ! It requires commitement but not liffe-worth risks !
Load More Replies...
PennyPenelopizePalmer 10 years ago
BRILLIANT. What a splendid adventure. Best of good fortune to you guys.
MohamedBouzidi 10 years ago
wish theme to reach the top safe and well done to do that hardiest bet !
ChrisBowen 10 years ago
Astonishing and slightly insane. Sheer respect and admiration, good luck boys hopefully you accomplish your mammoth task...
digitfields 10 years ago
That's Insanaside! Must be exhilarating being connected to this world by only one's fingertips! High fives to these dudes!
digitfields 10 years ago
That's insanaside! Pretty admirable though! Must be exhilarating being connected to this world through your fingertips! High fives!
JosiahHeng 10 years ago
I'm assuming they do a 3000 ft poop? What's it like when s**t falls from tat kind of height??
Chris Bowen 10 years ago
I imagine the same as it would be from 1ft at some point they both hit the floor and stop!
Load More Replies...
MarleneEroParker 10 years ago
They defy gravity, so amazing and brave. No fear of heights like me.
TunTunNyee 10 years ago
Impressive but I wouldn't be shocked if they fall and die and become headlines ... These guys' trust fund would go to waste
Jared Theis 10 years ago
Apparently you don't know much about climbing culture or professional climbers the ma and sometimes food and yeah you just made a huge best
Load More Replies...
10 years ago
Wow. These people amaze, me. I am terrified of heights so I really admire them. Is there a point to all this though?
PetraBlumkaitis 10 years ago
not to take away from the truly astounding feat they are attempting, but they are not free-climbing, they are lead-climbing.
MeghanSpring 10 years ago
Good luck to the top! You guys are doing awesome! The climb looks amazing!!
LukasDurjan 10 years ago
authors probably don't have a clue about what does "free climbing" mean.....thay have a rope...therefore it's not a free climbing.
zOutside 10 years ago
Free climbing is not the same as free soloing, which is what Alex Honnold does frequently. The author has the correct term
Load More Replies...
NellJerome 10 years ago
How about Alex Honnold? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR1jwwagtaQ&feature=share
AdriAnneLarsen 10 years ago
BOOOORING!!!! This has been done before by Alex Honnold. And he did it alone, in less than a day. Find something that's actually impressive.
summitjunkie 10 years ago
No, it hasn't. Alex Honnold has done many impressive climbs but freeing the dawn wall has not been done by Honnold or anyone else.
Load More Replies... PetraBlumkaitis 10 years ago
not to take away from the truly astounding feat they are attempting, but they are not free climbing, they are lead climbing.
Jared Theis 10 years ago
I'm pretty sure those definitions go hand in hand there's a difference between free climbing and free solo
Load More Replies...
gregoiremoutardier 10 years ago
Not really free-climbing and not really the hardest route ever. However, f*cking cool.
summitjunkie 10 years ago
Yes, it is free climbing. They are using gear and ropes for protection only, not to ascend. You are probably thinking of free soloing.
Load More Replies... SandraAnderson 10 years ago
You're killin' me with this question :D in midair, I guess :D http://bit.ly/1w2Rywk
Load More Replies... AndyPorter 10 years ago
Impressive, but Alex Hunnold climbed it in 3hrs with no rope at all!! check him out on you tube.
BethenyHawkins 10 years ago
Technically Alex Hunnold climbed the Regular North face of the Dome while it says these guys are climbing El Capitan. Both impressive feats!
Load More Replies... RebeccaGianpicolo 10 years ago
May the Odds be in your favor congrats guys for making it this far can't wait to you make it to the top you guys are an inspiration!!!!
SoniaJacques 10 years ago
I am not sure whether to be amazed or horrified or both. Well you are half way up now guys so I am rooting for you!
BrunoGagnon 10 years ago
It's not dangerous ! It requires commitement but not liffe-worth risks !
Load More Replies... PennyPenelopizePalmer 10 years ago
BRILLIANT. What a splendid adventure. Best of good fortune to you guys.
MohamedBouzidi 10 years ago
wish theme to reach the top safe and well done to do that hardiest bet !
ChrisBowen 10 years ago
Astonishing and slightly insane. Sheer respect and admiration, good luck boys hopefully you accomplish your mammoth task...
digitfields 10 years ago
That's Insanaside! Must be exhilarating being connected to this world by only one's fingertips! High fives to these dudes!
digitfields 10 years ago
That's insanaside! Pretty admirable though! Must be exhilarating being connected to this world through your fingertips! High fives!
JosiahHeng 10 years ago
I'm assuming they do a 3000 ft poop? What's it like when s**t falls from tat kind of height??
Chris Bowen 10 years ago
I imagine the same as it would be from 1ft at some point they both hit the floor and stop!
Load More Replies... MarleneEroParker 10 years ago
They defy gravity, so amazing and brave. No fear of heights like me.
TunTunNyee 10 years ago
Impressive but I wouldn't be shocked if they fall and die and become headlines ... These guys' trust fund would go to waste
Jared Theis 10 years ago
Apparently you don't know much about climbing culture or professional climbers the ma and sometimes food and yeah you just made a huge best
Load More Replies... 10 years ago
Wow. These people amaze, me. I am terrified of heights so I really admire them. Is there a point to all this though?
PetraBlumkaitis 10 years ago
not to take away from the truly astounding feat they are attempting, but they are not free-climbing, they are lead-climbing.
MeghanSpring 10 years ago
Good luck to the top! You guys are doing awesome! The climb looks amazing!!
LukasDurjan 10 years ago
authors probably don't have a clue about what does "free climbing" mean.....thay have a rope...therefore it's not a free climbing.
zOutside 10 years ago
Free climbing is not the same as free soloing, which is what Alex Honnold does frequently. The author has the correct term
Load More Replies... NellJerome 10 years ago
How about Alex Honnold? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR1jwwagtaQ&feature=share
AdriAnneLarsen 10 years ago
BOOOORING!!!! This has been done before by Alex Honnold. And he did it alone, in less than a day. Find something that's actually impressive.
summitjunkie 10 years ago
No, it hasn't. Alex Honnold has done many impressive climbs but freeing the dawn wall has not been done by Honnold or anyone else.
Load More Replies... PetraBlumkaitis 10 years ago
not to take away from the truly astounding feat they are attempting, but they are not free climbing, they are lead climbing.
Jared Theis 10 years ago
I'm pretty sure those definitions go hand in hand there's a difference between free climbing and free solo
Load More Replies... gregoiremoutardier 10 years ago
Not really free-climbing and not really the hardest route ever. However, f*cking cool.
summitjunkie 10 years ago
Yes, it is free climbing. They are using gear and ropes for protection only, not to ascend. You are probably thinking of free soloing.
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