El Capitan Conquered !

[mikey4444]

Amazing achievement ! I have stood at the bottom of El Capitan on a couple of occasions and it seems to go on for very above. Well done to these two lads !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30825589

[Tilly2]

Now they've got to get down!

[grumpy01]

Yes a brilliant achievement.Listened to a climber on t.v. the other day saying that most of their climbing was done at night,apparently to help fingers grip the stone when it was cooler as they were "free" climbing.Also apparently had to keep using some expensive cream as skin on their fingers had mostly worn away.

[janbee]

Either very brave and daring or very foolhardy. Whichever it is, it's an amazing achievement. Well done to them. Yes, I've been to El Capitan and thought..."oooh, that's high, what kind of idiot would ever want to climb that"? Now we know. Well done to them. What now though ? What's the next unattainable goal?

[Old_Geezer]

Sooner they than I.
Bully for them though. Nerves of steel and determination to the max.

[buildersmate]

What's your question?

This News section appears to have turned into a blog. Can I recommend Twitter as better suited for your purpose?
?

[Old_Geezer]

Fair comment I suppose. Maybe should be in CB. But it is news so maybe the question is, Why ?

[bednobs]

i honestly don't get what is so special about it - in the video, they just looked like ordinary mountain climbers to me - they call it free climbing but they had ropes!

[mikey4444]

El Capitan has never been free-climbed before, and this attempt has been featured on news channels many time in the last 2 weeks. Not news ?

[mikey4444]

OG...remember the answer that Mallory gave when he was asked why he climbed Everest ?

Because it was there, as I recall.

[bednobs]

but they are not free climbing it? 17 seconds into the vidoe, they just look like "normal" rock climbers

[mikey4444]

Not sure why you are disputing what the BBC and every other news media have said Bednobs, but here is a definition of Free Climbing :::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing

[jno]

it's on the front online page of the BBC News, Telegraph and Independent, so they think it's news at least... it doesn't interest me much but it's news

[ToraToraTora]

Ok several stone ago I was a rock climber and this is a magnificent achievement and worthy of news, not sure what buildersmate expects, this is the holy grail of rock climbs, if its conquering is not worthy of news I don’t know what is. Ok to the ignorant above, free climbing is climbing without aid but with some level of safety, normal aid climbing and most mountaineering includes devices the for the climber for foot holds and hand holds eg stirups etc. Free climbing involves a leader going up and putting protection devices in the rock in various small cracks and fissures then putting a quick draw on it and looping the rope through, now the second has him if he falls if the first one of these is done then he'll hit the deck on the first pitch, other pitches he may have a long fall but should be ok. The second will be top roped so he's safer, I imagine these 2 alternated. Bednobs is talking about solo climbing which is the same as free climbing but with no ropes at all, like that French bloke on the skyscrapers.

[ToraToraTora]

PS Tilly, there is an easy way down at the back, reward in itself!

[jim360]

Now do it blindfolded.

[boxtops]

I was amazed to hear that they overnighted hanging from the rocks (they couldn't do it any other way), but rather them than me :-)

[-Talbot-]

Interesting thread, some negative comments but some positive ones too.
It also contains a rare moment of unity between mikey & TTT.

Whether you are Up, down, left or right ...this thread offers hope for a better world!

[mikey4444]

Thanks TTT, for such a detailed answer !

I, like you, used to "do a bit" and like you, it was many stones and pounds ago ! But I couldn't even have made it 20 feet all those years ago, let alone 3000 feet. The bit about sleeping in those tents brings me out in a cold sweat !I have camped at the bottom of El Cap and its looked magical in a full moon.

What a wonderful place Yosemite is....I advice everybody to save up and make the trip over there...easily one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. I am typing this while looking a framed Ansel Adams photograph of the place.

[Orderlimit]

Incredible achievement of mental & physical endurance.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't think he was querying it was news, but that it held any question to be answered.

Aye, I read somewhere the "because it was there" answer was a flippant attempt to finish the newspapers' interview. Not sure if that's true, but it rings true !

There's a quick way down too. One of the climbers almost took it from what I saw this morning, but for a rope. Always puzzled me how you get a rope secured above you if you aren't there yet. Sounds like the leader has already done the climb :-)