my father always said, "I'll clap when i see the parade." so i'm waiting for the equivalent of the Harlin Direct.
To sum up this thread: Haters gonna hate.
6
Putting It In Perspective
This so-called "free-climb" was truly spectacular, not the least because it took the climbers a long time to pull it off.
In a very similar act of skill and daring, Nik Wallenda walked across the Niagara Falls' gorge on nothing but a two-inch diameter cable, covering 1,500 feet, suspended above "nothing;" and he pulled it off in less than 30 minutes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/nyregion/wallendas-niagara-falls-tight...
The same was true when Wallenda took a 1,400 foot hike along his cable suspended high above the floor of the Grand Canyon ... and with his only tool being a 24 foot pole weighing about 50 pounds. As was true of the Niagara Falls' hike, the trip took less than 30 minutes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/business/nik-wallendas-risk-for-discov...
To get coverage equal to the Times' coverage of Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, I'm going to suggest that when Nik Wallenda takes a 3-mile hike across the Grand Canyon -- surely he'll do that one of these days -- he carry a sling and spend the night snoozing somewhere around the 1.5-mile mark. Now wouldn't that be something?
This so-called "free-climb" was truly spectacular, not the least because it took the climbers a long time to pull it off.
In a very similar act of skill and daring, Nik Wallenda walked across the Niagara Falls' gorge on nothing but a two-inch diameter cable, covering 1,500 feet, suspended above "nothing;" and he pulled it off in less than 30 minutes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/nyregion/wallendas-niagara-falls-tight...
The same was true when Wallenda took a 1,400 foot hike along his cable suspended high above the floor of the Grand Canyon ... and with his only tool being a 24 foot pole weighing about 50 pounds. As was true of the Niagara Falls' hike, the trip took less than 30 minutes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/business/nik-wallendas-risk-for-discov...
To get coverage equal to the Times' coverage of Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, I'm going to suggest that when Nik Wallenda takes a 3-mile hike across the Grand Canyon -- surely he'll do that one of these days -- he carry a sling and spend the night snoozing somewhere around the 1.5-mile mark. Now wouldn't that be something?
1
An amazing accomplishment. Just jaw-dropping that they successfully free-climbed this tremendous vertical face. No more whining about a 5-story walk-up from me!
4
And I thought getting a total knee replacement was hard....I stand, joyously, corrected.
2
There are naysayers below who wish this effort could have been put to better use helping the less fortunate of society. I suppose the logical extension of that reasoning would be to also question every other sport, and in addition lets question all music, art and literature too because they provide no direct benefit. I suppose we could confine our efforts simply to providing ourselves, and the needy, the necessities of life; food, clothing, shelter and water. But our bodies are not just made of bone, muscle, blood and skin, they also contain hopes and dreams. What about nourishment for the mind, heart and soul? God bless the dreamers I say, dream on!
8
Man, what is with all the bitterness and cynicism on this thread? What they did was awesome and inspiring. Plus it's just nice to read some good news for a change. If you have something negative to say about all of this, please share with us what you have done in your own life that compares?
9
When I read the negative comments I puzzle at why people seem to single out this athletic achievement for denigration. The closest analogy to what Caldwell and Jorgeson have done is the Olympics. Like most Olympic athletes, they train insanely in relative obscurity with little pay for many years and then happen to find themselves on an international stage for 15 days. Their journey and performance end up capturing the imagination of and prove inspiring to millions. So why such a band of haters?
Maybe I missed it, but when Michael Phelps won a bunch of gold medals I don't remember comments like:
"I'm sure swimming up and down a pool is hard, but really, what has he accomplished?"
"If he had spent 15 days feeding the poor and visiting the sick instead of marching around the Olympic complex then I might have been impressed."
"I don't understand why the NYT keeps running stories on Michael Phelps and the Olympics. It makes me question their editorial choices all the time for the whole paper!"
"Didn't he notice that the world headlines got worse while he was just swimming in a pool? How about some priorities?"
I think you get the point.
Maybe I missed it, but when Michael Phelps won a bunch of gold medals I don't remember comments like:
"I'm sure swimming up and down a pool is hard, but really, what has he accomplished?"
"If he had spent 15 days feeding the poor and visiting the sick instead of marching around the Olympic complex then I might have been impressed."
"I don't understand why the NYT keeps running stories on Michael Phelps and the Olympics. It makes me question their editorial choices all the time for the whole paper!"
"Didn't he notice that the world headlines got worse while he was just swimming in a pool? How about some priorities?"
I think you get the point.
14
Sorry for the negativism mrc, but I really dont support the Olympics either. I know it is supposed to bring countries and the world together in the name of sportsmanship and team work but often it is just a big competition to prove to the rest of the world how great your country is (Sochi and Shanghai) by appropriating land where poor people live, evict them and build a huge stadium for your "show". Or have all your rich friends benefit from the building of the structures and then the citizens have to pay off the debt for decades. The Olympics used to be an admirable venture but like everything, including this climb, it is all about capitalism, recognition and one up man ship. Cynical, oh yeah, I'm cynical. I'm a born and bred New Yorker.
"Michael Phelps won a gold medal for Freestyle. But that wasn't Freestyle!!! True Freestyle would be swimming in the deepest ocean, no land in sight, completely naked. I'm not a swimmer personally, but I do know that anything else is just a stunt."
5
Please include in your cynicism all the attention that the National Parks are getting. What happened to boring old Smoky the Bear establishing sustainable public funding to restore once thriving parks? How come they can't just sell more maps to protect resources and police vast areas of wilderness?
Attention is precisely what the parks need and recognition as a consequence of two awesome guys isn't the worst thing ever. Particularly when this feat, and the community that is excited about it, is so low impact compared to something like the Olympics, I find it tough to do anything but applaud what happened yesterday (and the 18 days before that).
Attention is precisely what the parks need and recognition as a consequence of two awesome guys isn't the worst thing ever. Particularly when this feat, and the community that is excited about it, is so low impact compared to something like the Olympics, I find it tough to do anything but applaud what happened yesterday (and the 18 days before that).
1
Congratulations on your amazing, "uplifting" accomplishment. Now please get to Kiehl's immediately and purchase a vat of their Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.
4
I have been watching these guys climb El Capitan from Day 1 and it was just so awesome to watch 2 human beings climb a sheer, smooth, granite rock face, using nothing but their hands,feet,strength and soul to achieve their goal. It just goes to show you that you can do and achieve anything if you put in the effort and I believe this example shows it. What an inspiration these two guys are. Somehow, the world seems a better place, at least for the moment.
5
When do they climb back down?
So few human actions these days inspire real awe. This did. Congratulations. You guys are truly Awesome!
4
you should read the accounts of what the men and women of our armed forces did to be awarded the nations highest honor---The Medal Of Honor---- now that will bring tears to anyones eyes and leave you speechless.
This is very impressive,good job guys.
This is very impressive,good job guys.
So pleased that there is film footage. Otherwise we'd have to hear Nancy Pritchard and John Bouchard spout on about how Tommy was making it all up.
3
I'm so glad this is over. This story makes the NFL look like a bunch of monks and nuns.
2
No story makes the NFL look like monks and nuns.
2
What is the value? Well, I think we all are defined by our passions, even if few are quite so dangerous, extreme or worthy of general interest (maybe) as climbing the Dawn Wall. I am all for passions but I agree there is a limit. They are self-defeating is they so consume us that we are unable to contribute in other ways -- if, say, we are so defined by playing the violin that we are indifferent to the suffering of our fellow creatures on earth, that we do not believe we have a responsibility to form intelligent views on our own communities and the like. Is this the case for Caldwell and Jorgenson? I doubt it, but it happens all the time.
1
For a country obsessed with FOOTBALL, it amazes me that anyone would have a negative take on what these men have accomplished. I have no doubt that they would have done this without the spectators, and our comments are irrelevant for the most part. I, for one, had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat for the beauty of their feat; they lifted me up with them yesterday, not that they meant to- there is value in that all by itself.
22
Cold shadows reclaim
The mountain's name still secret
Lone climbers descend
The mountain's name still secret
Lone climbers descend
I can't believe some of the comments here. So negative, so petty. Yes, there was already hardware in place when they climbed, and they didn't have to set their own belay points. So it wasn't as "pure" as it could have been in a perfect world, I suppose. At a certain point, the line between purism and puerile disappears. To turn your nose up at this is petty and small.
Why do it? Because it's there.
We live in an age where everything has to be oriented towards some goal of self-betterment, and every experience must lead somewhere fruitful. You put in your 10,000 hours to gain mastery. But what of the 10,000 hours? Was every one lived in the present, or was it all to reach some tomorrow?
They did this because they wanted to see if it could be done.
Call it arrogant, call it selfish, call it what you like. It's inspiring.
The hardest thing for many to accept about this, I think, is that there's nothing really to accept. It doesn't really seem to me to be about fame or sponsorship or anything else other than the climb itself. How many times in our society do we see people devote themselves to the pursuit of a perfect moment for the sake of the moment itself and nothing else?
It's beautiful in the most zen possible way. I'm in awe, and I'm inspired. Why question that? I've climbed, and I've climbed in Yosemite. I get the depth and breadth of what they did.
But you know what? Haters gonna hate.
Why do it? Because it's there.
We live in an age where everything has to be oriented towards some goal of self-betterment, and every experience must lead somewhere fruitful. You put in your 10,000 hours to gain mastery. But what of the 10,000 hours? Was every one lived in the present, or was it all to reach some tomorrow?
They did this because they wanted to see if it could be done.
Call it arrogant, call it selfish, call it what you like. It's inspiring.
The hardest thing for many to accept about this, I think, is that there's nothing really to accept. It doesn't really seem to me to be about fame or sponsorship or anything else other than the climb itself. How many times in our society do we see people devote themselves to the pursuit of a perfect moment for the sake of the moment itself and nothing else?
It's beautiful in the most zen possible way. I'm in awe, and I'm inspired. Why question that? I've climbed, and I've climbed in Yosemite. I get the depth and breadth of what they did.
But you know what? Haters gonna hate.
28
These two got more column inches in the NYT than the Nobel Prize winners in medicine and economics combined: people who have been getting up early in the morning and working late against haters for 30 years. "the most zen possible way"? Really? MOST ZEN? MOST!? Come now.
2
spot on....thank you for posting.
2
How about the Men and Women ,who choose to put themselves in harms way everyday as soldiers,sailors,marines,air force coast guard,police officers,firemen,emt's and the list can go on and on.
There are thousands of great people that put themselves out there with no fan fare to make a difference and in doing so inspire others at the risk of their on lives.
These guys are an inspiration, but one of the greatest monumental events in or history--------Doesn't even come close.
Good job guys.
There are thousands of great people that put themselves out there with no fan fare to make a difference and in doing so inspire others at the risk of their on lives.
These guys are an inspiration, but one of the greatest monumental events in or history--------Doesn't even come close.
Good job guys.
Congratulations to both of these outstanding athletes. Their accomplishment is outstanding, and they will always be able to say they were the first to do what they have done. However, the use of anchored metal pinions defaces El Capitan, as it does on every other mountains where they are used. Are they removed after the climbers finish the individual parts of the climb?
Yes, I LET you climb over my belly, not yet knowing whether you had the purity of heart and mind to conquer — not ME, in the cold damp wind or heat of day, over my taught skin with little to scrutinize for hope — but ultimately to conquer your own fear, of what has never been done. Yes I LET you climb, for your humbleness has deemed you worthy as has your joy. Walk tall, young men. And remember me and all that I am connected to.
1
Why does the NY Times feel it necessary to give this climb the publicity that it has? It's a terrific accomplishment, sure, but nowhere near worthy of the print space given. It makes me question the editor's neutrality on ALL stories - does the Times somehow benefit from this coverage? I've read the times for 60 years and have never seem anything like this.
2
It's called a human interest story. They are incredibly common, and the Times runs them all the time.
4
I am submitting in all humility, as I know absolutely nothing about climbing; Still, I was surprised in the NYT 's previous article two days ago, to find most of the star spotlight apparently focused on Mr. Jorgensen, on his quest, his personality, his challenge. Meanwhile. Mr Caldwell was hardly mentioned except that he had already made the difficult pass on his own and was patiently waiting seven days for his partner to try again and again.
Hearty congratulations to both, but I am just curious to hear if Mr. Caldwell could have complete tis climb on his own, of if he needed a partner to do so more effectively?
Hearty congratulations to both, but I am just curious to hear if Mr. Caldwell could have complete tis climb on his own, of if he needed a partner to do so more effectively?
Just my thought, and there are fans who surely know more than I do. Tommy Caldwell is a very well known climber in the climbing community and has many achievements over the years. He's like a celebrity. Meanwhile, I'm not too familiar with Kevin. Maybe the Times wanted to focus on him because he's up and coming? Again, I'm not well versed in who's who in the climbing world.
As for whether Tommy could do this by himself, he would still need a partner to belay and catch his falls. This other partner could just aid climb and not do free climbing (aid climbing uses ropes to scale up, free climbing uses hands and feet to go up and rope is for catching falls only). But I think the purpose of this project was to purely free climb the wall, with no aiding for either person.
As for whether Tommy could do this by himself, he would still need a partner to belay and catch his falls. This other partner could just aid climb and not do free climbing (aid climbing uses ropes to scale up, free climbing uses hands and feet to go up and rope is for catching falls only). But I think the purpose of this project was to purely free climb the wall, with no aiding for either person.
I remember when Capt. Kirk was shown free-climbing El Capitan in a Star Trek movie, experienced climbers everywhere scoffed, saying it was impossible and would never be done. That movie was set in the 23rd century, so Caldwell and Jorgenson showed up the naysayers by more than two centuries! A stunning achievement.
3
Hoorah, and congratulations to Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson from one whose climbing capabilities reached 5.7 and who cannot really fathom 5.12, let alone 5.14...
Climbing a few pitches in a day and returning to camp, as we usually did, or climbing a mountain that has rock pitches interspersed with a lot of walking, is a lovely thing to do. This multi-day vertical adventure is in a different category.
Thanks to these guys for what they did, and the style with which they did it.
Climbing a few pitches in a day and returning to camp, as we usually did, or climbing a mountain that has rock pitches interspersed with a lot of walking, is a lovely thing to do. This multi-day vertical adventure is in a different category.
Thanks to these guys for what they did, and the style with which they did it.
11
Well done, lads, well done.
2
This is one of the best series of newspaper articles I have ever read. Every morning I would immediately turn to the sports section hoping for another article by John Branch. I love Yosemite and know the trail he took to the top. Amazing dedication to the story. Thanks for bringing this story alive for so many people. I also appreciated the interactive features and photographs that accompanied the series. I am sad that my reading adventure is over. I will look forward to future articles by Branch.
2
It's a beautiful achievement. Let's celebrate the greatness of the human spirit to persist and overcome.
7
Rock climbing is experiencing substantial growth and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment sales per year. Large companies like Adidas and Patagonia have equipment and endorsement contracts with prominent climbers, none more prominent than Caldwell and Jorgeson. (Note that everything Jorgeson is wearing is Adidas.) With Adidas and Patagonia heavily advertising this enterprise, they are no doubt paying premium fees to the climbers. And while climbing is clearly dangerous, this form of climbing is far from the most dangerous. The possibility of serious injury by falling, because of safety ropes and the support team, is probably overrated by most unschooled fans. At any rate, this is clearly not a wilderness adventure. It is not as dangerous as most legendary adventures into the unknown, like Everest and the North Pole and outer space and the early crossings of the Atlantic, by ship and by plane. Most pioneers these days who get this kind of exposure can sit on the couch for the rest of their years. Doing anything adventurous and dangerous for the first time is not what it used to be. Kind of like climbing a new route up Everest with hourly television updates on ESPN, advertised by your favorite shoe company.
1
I never feel small or humbled by nature. Quite the contrary; the great wildness of our planet makes me feel bigger, more powerful, like I'm part of something grand.
These men humble me. They make me take a hard look at what I think is impossible, and I'm deeply grateful for their tremendous achievement.
These men humble me. They make me take a hard look at what I think is impossible, and I'm deeply grateful for their tremendous achievement.
4
I'm not a climber, but I've had the extreme pleasure of knowing a bunch of them because my daughter and son-in-law are climbers. My kids and some of their climber friends escorted me through the Grand Canyon by raft and kayak three times, and I can say I've not known a more fun-loving, environmentally conscious, and thoughtful-of-others group of people than those climbers. From my personal experience I am confident in saying most climbers don't pursue their goals to impress others, although that is often one of their rewards.
I watched the last 90 minutes of the climb live (NBC, web stream). El Captain might have been Park Avenue, so evident was the ease of their unthinkable physical feat.
Physical, yes: but also about that tiny space, infinitely large, where the physical disappears and dissolves into the metaphysical, where physical and spirit contact each other and connect a unique contour of challenges. This boundary land required unseen virtues of patience, inner heart, peace, and a transient, creative joy as much as visible strength. Practice takes you to its edge; the inner effort to shed doubts and comforts, to abandon all the normal rules to discover new ones even older than those abandoned, is what guides and buoys the creative presence left to mark the way through the impossible journey.
The ancient myths all speak of it! The Indian myth of Brahma's prayer for the holy waters of the Ganga to come down from heaven to wash away an ancestral curse; the three temptations of Christ; the High John myths of African-American folklore all show, to varying degrees, the results of communication through heroic effort and virtues, the answered strength of unseen hills.
We savour this great moment of our times. As simple men have achieved dreams whose source is the divine behind the veils, we, too, can lift the veils of our lives and challenge ourselves to seek the shared inner heart that will make us heroes of our dreams.
As high and tough was the climb, we all have a route to our own depth.
Physical, yes: but also about that tiny space, infinitely large, where the physical disappears and dissolves into the metaphysical, where physical and spirit contact each other and connect a unique contour of challenges. This boundary land required unseen virtues of patience, inner heart, peace, and a transient, creative joy as much as visible strength. Practice takes you to its edge; the inner effort to shed doubts and comforts, to abandon all the normal rules to discover new ones even older than those abandoned, is what guides and buoys the creative presence left to mark the way through the impossible journey.
The ancient myths all speak of it! The Indian myth of Brahma's prayer for the holy waters of the Ganga to come down from heaven to wash away an ancestral curse; the three temptations of Christ; the High John myths of African-American folklore all show, to varying degrees, the results of communication through heroic effort and virtues, the answered strength of unseen hills.
We savour this great moment of our times. As simple men have achieved dreams whose source is the divine behind the veils, we, too, can lift the veils of our lives and challenge ourselves to seek the shared inner heart that will make us heroes of our dreams.
As high and tough was the climb, we all have a route to our own depth.
22
Walter, in my opinion your writing is a beautiful to read as it is to watch the graceful movement of these two young men on their vertical stage. I aspire to be half the writer you are and half the climbers they are.
3
Very eloquently expressed.
2
Thanks, all. Bill, the secret: read Gail and Charles (Collins and Blow). Follow Strunk: omit needless words. My grandfather was a bricklayer. I want my words to be like his stone.
3
Fantastic achievement. However referring to the climb as "without ropes" seems a misnomer. Each time a limber slipped and was saved by the safety lines I would say was a fail. If the lines, necessarily there as safety measures, were not present, the climbs would not have been completed.
1
a picture evokes a thousand emotions
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/14/sports/the-dawn-wall-up-cl...
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/14/sports/the-dawn-wall-up-cl...
Trying hard to be open-minded here, but I just don't get it. Yes, hard work and perseverance are to be admired and applauded, but doesn't the actual goal achieved matter? Why is finding a different, absurdly difficult route up a mountain that thousands of people already climb every year worth doing?
9
Is there an "actual goal" or a practical purpose to writing a poem or creating a sculpture? The defining characteristic of both sports and the arts is that they are not done to achieve a practical result but rather to show what the mind, body and spirit are capable of achieving.
6
You are sadly mistaken, thousands of people have never claimed the Dawn Wall, let alone per year.
Thank you Jon for so clearly stating what I have been thinking. I dont get it either. I think these two just never want to grow up. They started out climbing trees when they were kids and have never stopped. Call me cynical but hey thats how I see it.
A spectacular human achievement, an inspiration to those with extraordinary dreams and demons, and further proof that their "ain't no mountain high enough" when smart, skilled and relentless people pursue a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Kudos to the Times for capturing this metaphoric moment and for building the fabulous interactive features.
1
Doing something like this is so out of my realm of understanding. Congratulations!
1
Cheers!!! Hats off to their phenomenal perseverance!!! You absolutely stand as inspiration.
PS. I wish NY Times had hired Jimmy Chin along with Whittaker to document the story.
PS. I wish NY Times had hired Jimmy Chin along with Whittaker to document the story.
"Los Capitanes" nothing more beautiful than to see the light in life accomplishments...
Riveting! I hope the Times will follow up with more climbing stories and some video so we can see understand how they managed to climb such a smooth surface. I'd like to understand how they can jump from one position to a "matchstick hold" on the rock. The climbers' Facebook pages show bouldering where they are climbing overhangs, defying gravity. How is this possible?
Congratulations!! As a lifelong teacher who strives to teach my students the "life skill" of perseverance, I salute you both. Your story will be on our perseverance bulletin board, and we will talk about your adventure! My students know, that perseverance is a skill used by athletes, academics, musicians and artists, and your example is a SHINING ONE!! Well done!
16
Anne: Thank you! Your response is one of the best here.
How surprised will they be when they find out there was a road that went RIGHT THERE! :-P
Seriously, though, great achievement. As has been said before, especially to the climber (Jorgeson, I believe?) who attempted & failed one difficult section (15th pitch) over and over again, but persevered and kept trying. And his partner Caldwell who waited for him to succeed, a true teammate. Great lesson for young & old alike.
Seriously, though, great achievement. As has been said before, especially to the climber (Jorgeson, I believe?) who attempted & failed one difficult section (15th pitch) over and over again, but persevered and kept trying. And his partner Caldwell who waited for him to succeed, a true teammate. Great lesson for young & old alike.
2
Oh, wow! This was the purest form of athleticism that can be imagined. None of the juvenile hype that so characterizes college and professional sports. Not a word about commercial endorsements, naming rights, and the mindless babble of the talking heads and jock - level comments about emotions and commitment. This was the real deal. No other sport can showcase the sheer toughness, perseverance, and tenacity that rock climbers treat as the norm. My days rock climbing are long over, but I still have some of my original gear to remember the wonderful times I had so long ago.
2
Truly inspirational. Its mind-boggling what a human can do. Doing it for its own sake. Very impressive.
But just to be clear, it was meats and cheeses, right?
But just to be clear, it was meats and cheeses, right?
1
The feat is simply great! Getting outside and climbing is not just an easy thing. Only one would know when they try it or some petty similar things some time. Climbers (and their family members) must be brave and very calm and cool. They make life and death decisions while climbing, and a wrong decision can kill them and the sport as well. These guys aren't saying what they did was amazing. After they have reached at the pick, it gets amazing. I don’t know whether they have called the Times to cover them, but by covering it, Times did good journalism. They were up there since December 27. They slept up there, ate up there, and … I don’t think they wanted to do all of that in front of the world. They just went out to climb for themselves, and now, the entire world is looking at them in admiration. They deserve it. I simply love these guys. Kudos to the beautiful sports of climbing, skiing, cross-country skiing... These are amazing things…
A really cool story. Perhaps it's been said already but the top of El Cap ought to be mantled in a solid snowpack in mid-January. Unfortunately, it looks like October there now. Alas probably another year of drought and water supply issues.
The only comment in the article with which I agreed was Warren Harding's reason for having made the climb: "Because we're insane!"
As a climber I just want to mention that the NYT coverage of this event was the most well written and researched series of articles. Bravo and thanks for sharing this remarkable achievement with the world.
Many won't understand what drives us to climb rocks - we can't even always express it ourselves. But watching these men fight through pain and hardship to reach deeply personal goals casts some illumination and hopefully will inspire a new generation of people to find something within themselves to dream of and achieve.
Many won't understand what drives us to climb rocks - we can't even always express it ourselves. But watching these men fight through pain and hardship to reach deeply personal goals casts some illumination and hopefully will inspire a new generation of people to find something within themselves to dream of and achieve.
4
"What fools these mortals be!"
1
And what have you done today?
1
I'll be interested in following up with these two a year or more down the road to see if they have found the feared hole now that they have tamed this beast, or a new challenge using this experience to build on.
1
Good for them. I guess it's great that we watched it unfold but it's also a bit of what takes away from it which is sort of what bothers me. I was sort of struck by this part of the story:
"The entire climb was visible to anyone who wanted to watch through binoculars or long camera lenses while standing in a nearby meadow. And in recent days the assembly grew, some bringing camp chairs and nibbling on meats and cheeses, as history unfolded high above. From the wall, the climbers communicated through text messages and social media."
They also skyped or FaceTimed or whatever with spouses. It's probably fair for them to get a little solace but it just feels cheap - the whole media circus about it. I wish they had done it without the journaling and photos and skype and updates each day from the mountain.
This is hardly Walter Bonatti just going up sick and unimaginable routes in the Jurases or Alps without any communication devices by himself, simply alone with his thoughts and at times in situations where a fall would have left him facing cetain death, his whereabouts forever unknown to the world. That to me is true risk, and truly something done for the sake of doing it.
"The entire climb was visible to anyone who wanted to watch through binoculars or long camera lenses while standing in a nearby meadow. And in recent days the assembly grew, some bringing camp chairs and nibbling on meats and cheeses, as history unfolded high above. From the wall, the climbers communicated through text messages and social media."
They also skyped or FaceTimed or whatever with spouses. It's probably fair for them to get a little solace but it just feels cheap - the whole media circus about it. I wish they had done it without the journaling and photos and skype and updates each day from the mountain.
This is hardly Walter Bonatti just going up sick and unimaginable routes in the Jurases or Alps without any communication devices by himself, simply alone with his thoughts and at times in situations where a fall would have left him facing cetain death, his whereabouts forever unknown to the world. That to me is true risk, and truly something done for the sake of doing it.
9
RS - I'm 67 years young and understand your call for a more "quieter" climbing experience, but this is the year 2015 after all (smile). Sharing their adventure by keeping in touch with the rest of us was something I thank them for doing - smartphones and all!
32
John Branch: thank you! Fantastic climb, beautiful photos, wonderful writing. My deep admiration to Caldwell and Jorgeson and their teams. Inspiring comment about the invitation to find our own Dawn Walls.
11
Bravo. The best of humanity! So happy for them…
7
Am I the only one who thinks that the the energy directed into this very difficult climb could have better directed elsewhere? Yes, I'm sure it was really hard, but what was produced except self promotion?
7
Yes you are the only one. Are people not free to pursue their passions? Are they hurting anyone? You need to look in the mirror kitty. How do you know they did it for self-promotion? They told you? Or is that a cynical assumption? Again, execute that mirror protocol kitty.
26
I would point you to a comment from a 4th grade teacher on the website elcapreport.com, where he talked about how excited his class was following the daily progress and how they were using it for lessons on patience, persistence, and setting and achieving goals. Touching kids in a way to get them to dream big and work to achieve whatever their dreams are seems like energy well-directed, especially when 5-10 years of the climbers' commitment to their own dream went unnoticed by anyone except the climbing community -- thus popping your self-promotion bubble.
72
Well, you could say the same about any sport or hobby.
13
Congratulations! A bright spot with much positivism after such bad events in the world of late.
7
As one who has spent many nights on El Capitan myself, I can assure the general non-climbing NYT reader that it is nearly impossible to convey the amount of training, dedication, drive, suffering, and inspiration that go into an ascent such as this.
Though I am not keen on the extent of media hype, I am keen to see that the idea for this wasn't sponsored and that they did this as a team with not much more than a common goal.
And may it stay that way.
As Emerson said: 'The reward of a thing well done is having done it.'
Though I am not keen on the extent of media hype, I am keen to see that the idea for this wasn't sponsored and that they did this as a team with not much more than a common goal.
And may it stay that way.
As Emerson said: 'The reward of a thing well done is having done it.'
92
I'd respect their dedication and suffering more if the recipient was other human beings, not a hunk of rock. An exciting way to live for two individuals doesn't really do anyone else any good.
1
It did me good, so there.
3
I applaud these men for their heroic climb. What an impressive feat of human determination, awe inspiring athletic ability, and sheer courage. These men provide the inertia for the more timid, more ordinary, and certainly more gravity minded to dream of life beyond the walls of the captivity of fear. They inspire me to scale my own personal mountains that often seem too formidable, though no less daunting, but far less dangerous. BRAVO!!!
14
All I can say is this is a billion times better than some whose life goal is to make as much money as possible. These guys had a lot of help and dedication to accomplish something that didn't have anything to do with more money. They did something no one has ever done. And they did it out of sheer talent and teamwork and didn't hurt anyone else in the process.
117
So true.
Really? I wonder how many people they employed during this quest? Hurt no one? What about the families of these men who would have been hurt beyond imagining if they had died. Good for them. They climbed a wall. But they are not heroes.
1
Climbing requires vision, courage, perseverance, and loyalty. These traits are just as important as strength and technical skills in determining whether or not you get to the top of the wall, and in my view they are the ingredients of true heros. I encourage those of you who recently became aware of climbing to keep your eyes open for other inspiring climbers and their adventures. There are many.
Even "professional climbers" such as Caldwell, Jorgeson, and Honnold, are hard-pressed to earn a decent living from their chosen sport. Perhaps that can change as a result of the media circus around the Dawn Wall adventure.
i also hope more people will view climbing is a legitimate recreational use in our National Parks and other wild places.
Personally, I started climbing in college and have kept it up for the past 25 years. Outdoor climbing has provided me with unforgettable experiences in beautiful settings and shared adventures with great friends. Indoor climbing, which is a great way to get stronger and was where both Jorgeson and Caldwell started and still train, involves solving physical and mental puzzles. Climbing is wonderful metaphor for life. I'm glad my kids are getting into it now, and I look forward to taking them outside next summer. Maybe someday they'll climb in Yosemite too.
Even "professional climbers" such as Caldwell, Jorgeson, and Honnold, are hard-pressed to earn a decent living from their chosen sport. Perhaps that can change as a result of the media circus around the Dawn Wall adventure.
i also hope more people will view climbing is a legitimate recreational use in our National Parks and other wild places.
Personally, I started climbing in college and have kept it up for the past 25 years. Outdoor climbing has provided me with unforgettable experiences in beautiful settings and shared adventures with great friends. Indoor climbing, which is a great way to get stronger and was where both Jorgeson and Caldwell started and still train, involves solving physical and mental puzzles. Climbing is wonderful metaphor for life. I'm glad my kids are getting into it now, and I look forward to taking them outside next summer. Maybe someday they'll climb in Yosemite too.
18
Caldwell and Jorgeson's feat seems almost mythical in this crazy post-modern world. Their names will reverberate forever around mountaineers's campfires. Believe in the sublime - they did it.
14
But why did they have to keep stopping and taking naps in tents? If they had done it in one single climb without stopping I would have been been more impressed.
3
Why?
Because the physical exertion and focus needed to accomplish a single pitch would send most Americans to bed for two days.
99.999% of Americans could not get 25 feet off the ground on this route, except via a crane.
Because the physical exertion and focus needed to accomplish a single pitch would send most Americans to bed for two days.
99.999% of Americans could not get 25 feet off the ground on this route, except via a crane.
35
I think this is impressive and I am so confused by all the negative comments. I couldn't do this is my wildest dreams but still can be thrilled for them! Their achievement stands on its own.
31
Random thoughts:
1) Wonderful achievement—congratulations, gentlemen!
2) There sure are a bunch of grumps in the world, judging by many of the comments here. No one is forcing them to read, much less comment on, the articles about the climb.
3) The reporter writes: "Thousands of visitors from around the world hike the eight steep miles to its top each year, ..." It seems to me he's confusing it with the hike to top of Half Dome, which is done by thousands. The top of El Capitan is not a popular hiking destination that I've ever been aware of.
4) I much prefer the "old name" for that face of El Capitan: The Wall of Early Morning Light. It's much more poetic and to me at least, somewhat evocative of Yosemite's Native American history. These articles were the first I had heard of the name change, having followed the original ascent as a teenager in 1970.
1) Wonderful achievement—congratulations, gentlemen!
2) There sure are a bunch of grumps in the world, judging by many of the comments here. No one is forcing them to read, much less comment on, the articles about the climb.
3) The reporter writes: "Thousands of visitors from around the world hike the eight steep miles to its top each year, ..." It seems to me he's confusing it with the hike to top of Half Dome, which is done by thousands. The top of El Capitan is not a popular hiking destination that I've ever been aware of.
4) I much prefer the "old name" for that face of El Capitan: The Wall of Early Morning Light. It's much more poetic and to me at least, somewhat evocative of Yosemite's Native American history. These articles were the first I had heard of the name change, having followed the original ascent as a teenager in 1970.
18
MJ,
Just a note on point 4: The Wall of Early Morning Light (VI 5.9 A9) is the specific name of the route that Warren Harding established on the Dawn Wall in the 70s, which is why you would have heard that name more readily prior to this ascent. It is one of multiple aid climbing routes on the Dawn Wall itself, alongside Mescalito, New Dawn and others. Caldwell and Jorgeson utilized some sections of Harding's heavily bolted route to pass some of the blankest sections.
It remains to be seen if Tommy and Kevin will choose a new name for their route, which utilizes some pitches from Mescalito, Wall of Early Morning Light and New Dawn, or if they will just refer to it as the Dawn Wall. Considering they took the only possible free climbing route up the wall, it seems unlikely that other free routes will ever be established.
Just a note on point 4: The Wall of Early Morning Light (VI 5.9 A9) is the specific name of the route that Warren Harding established on the Dawn Wall in the 70s, which is why you would have heard that name more readily prior to this ascent. It is one of multiple aid climbing routes on the Dawn Wall itself, alongside Mescalito, New Dawn and others. Caldwell and Jorgeson utilized some sections of Harding's heavily bolted route to pass some of the blankest sections.
It remains to be seen if Tommy and Kevin will choose a new name for their route, which utilizes some pitches from Mescalito, Wall of Early Morning Light and New Dawn, or if they will just refer to it as the Dawn Wall. Considering they took the only possible free climbing route up the wall, it seems unlikely that other free routes will ever be established.
1
Thanks for the reply!
Ah the negative comments from people who have never smelled a real deep challenge and the tatse of utter commitment in their windging lives.
Tommy and Kevin are the opposite of that malaise and torpor.
No wonder the critics!
They are air in a vacuum. Congrats, boys!
You stand as inspiration to this old mountain man.
Tommy and Kevin are the opposite of that malaise and torpor.
No wonder the critics!
They are air in a vacuum. Congrats, boys!
You stand as inspiration to this old mountain man.
37
If they'd pulled themselves up by ropes, no big deal. They pulled themselves up by their hands and used ropes to keep from falling. Not more risk, just more difficult. Not as impressive as climbing Everest with prosthetic legs, which makes it riskier. That was first done in 1998. The Times didn't cover it.
1
Thanks NYT for this great and uplifting story. More of this in the future please, and less of the meaningless nonsense (blathering politicians). Fine journalism indeed!
16
19 days without bathing! Caldwell and Jorgeson will now enter into the Guinness Book of Worlds Records as having the worst B.O.
1
My brother Jordan and our friend Ellen and I went 23 days without bathing on the Pacific Crest Trail, from Agua Dulce to Vermillion Valley Resort, which is just north of Kings Canyon. 1999. Good times, good times. We didn't even have soap for the final 14 days to wash our hands with, and we ate out of the same pot and Ellen lost her spoon so we had to share utensils. We'd take a bite, and pass our spoon clockwise.
Wow, what am I doing here as a grown-up in a house and having a bath every day? (Oh right, working and raising children, my other life's goals.)
Wow, what am I doing here as a grown-up in a house and having a bath every day? (Oh right, working and raising children, my other life's goals.)
20
Fun adventure to follow. Two tough guys. For us semi-couch potatoes, a pleasant diversion from the blather of politicians and ideologues. But the worst B.O.? Not sure about that. My daughter and a bunch of other kids spent 30 days in the Canadian Yukon wilderness participating in a NOLS program. They got one rinse in an icy lake about three weeks into the trek. No communication with the rest of the world for a month. Not so delightful for the parents!
Amazing! Loved checking in on the live feed occasionally during the day to see how thing were going.
One question (and keep in mind I know absolutely nothing about this sport): what were they doing constantly "fussing" as they would slowly move up/
across? I noticed that there seemed to be many adjustments, with arms and hands moving a lot from side to side, twisting around the back, lots of movement - but I could see well enough to know to what end.
One question (and keep in mind I know absolutely nothing about this sport): what were they doing constantly "fussing" as they would slowly move up/
across? I noticed that there seemed to be many adjustments, with arms and hands moving a lot from side to side, twisting around the back, lots of movement - but I could see well enough to know to what end.
2
really, who cares.
they fabricated a goal.
They climbed a wall.
They risked their lives.
they displayed hubris and selfishness (one married!)
now what?
They attempt to parlay their feats into fame.
They are true americans
they fabricated a goal.
They climbed a wall.
They risked their lives.
they displayed hubris and selfishness (one married!)
now what?
They attempt to parlay their feats into fame.
They are true americans
15
What have you accomplished in life?
Would you care to share with us?
Would you care to share with us?
11
When I was younger, in my50"s, my Partner encouraged me to go to the Valley and climb. She knew what made me happy, and loved me enough to be encouraging. These two guys are probably in a similar loving relationship.
1
WOW! Really? i care as do many, many others. When we human beings stretch ourselves like this it makes more room for the rest of us. i celebrate their accomplishment as terrified by it as i am.
3
This run on sentence from the article is confusing and wrong:
"They are the first to free climb the 3,000-foot wall in a single expedition, long considered impossible, using only their hands and feet to pull themselves up. Ropes were merely safety devices to break the occasional fall."
Free climbing uses no ropes - ever. That's the insanity of free climbing.
Conventional climbing uses ropes, not to pull oneself up, but to arrest falls.
The rope depends from the first climber on a rope. The last one on the rope pulls the protection. If one falls while climbing on belay the rope is there solely to arrest the fall by the person performing the belay.
"They are the first to free climb the 3,000-foot wall in a single expedition, long considered impossible, using only their hands and feet to pull themselves up. Ropes were merely safety devices to break the occasional fall."
Free climbing uses no ropes - ever. That's the insanity of free climbing.
Conventional climbing uses ropes, not to pull oneself up, but to arrest falls.
The rope depends from the first climber on a rope. The last one on the rope pulls the protection. If one falls while climbing on belay the rope is there solely to arrest the fall by the person performing the belay.
2
Raul, you are confusing free climbing, which uses ropes for protection, but not for ascending, with free soloing, which does not use ropes, even for protection.
14
as has been stated many times on these comment boards, by people with actual climbing experience, people like you are confusing "free climbing" with "free soloing".
17
wrong. In contrast to "aid climbing", the term "free climbing" is prone to misunderstanding and misuse.
The two most common errors are:
Confusing free climbing with its subset "free soloing", a willfully risk-taking endeavor involving climbing with just one's hands, feet, and body without any rope or protective equipment
Conflating soloing a free climb with free soloing, "soloing" alone meaning merely to climb with no partner, which depending on the difficulty of the route can be done safely using any of a number of self-belaying systems. In the UK the term "soloing" refers to soloing free (no aid sections) routes.
The two most common errors are:
Confusing free climbing with its subset "free soloing", a willfully risk-taking endeavor involving climbing with just one's hands, feet, and body without any rope or protective equipment
Conflating soloing a free climb with free soloing, "soloing" alone meaning merely to climb with no partner, which depending on the difficulty of the route can be done safely using any of a number of self-belaying systems. In the UK the term "soloing" refers to soloing free (no aid sections) routes.
9
I really want to know how these guys got back down to the base after their accomplishment? Did they repel down or walk?
1
The Downton Abbey crew loaned them a chauffeured Bentley for the drive down.
Two ways off of El Cap:
1) a series of 5 rappels down loose and dangerous ledges (not good when you're exhausted), or,
2) an 8-mile walk down a pleasant hiking trail that takes you around the base of the spectacular upper Yosemite Falls.
I'm sure they will walk down.
Two ways off of El Cap:
1) a series of 5 rappels down loose and dangerous ledges (not good when you're exhausted), or,
2) an 8-mile walk down a pleasant hiking trail that takes you around the base of the spectacular upper Yosemite Falls.
I'm sure they will walk down.
7
Jorgensen's comment "I think everyone has their own secret Dawn Wall to complete one day, and maybe they can put this project in their own context” resonates tremendously.
The lack of any arrogance-- indeed, the simple and genuine empathy-- impress me beyond the achievement of scaling the Dawn Wall.
The lack of any arrogance-- indeed, the simple and genuine empathy-- impress me beyond the achievement of scaling the Dawn Wall.
148
Very well said as to how the rest of us can be inspired to dare in our own lives
6
To dare what, though?
lack of arrogance is unusual for the new generations of youth, alway striving for their 15 minutes of fame , no matter how ridiculous they have to get.
To these guys, job well done.
To these guys, job well done.
I've been following this story with great interest ever since the Times started covering it. What an amazing achievement for both of them.
13
The other day, I posted a rather cynical comment questioning the value of this climb and making a snide comment about whether, climbing jargon aside, it was truly a "free climb." I take it back wholeheartedly. After reading the story of the climbers and their climb, and seeing the photos, I'm in awe of this achievement. Bravo Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson.
119
“I hope it inspires people to find their own Dawn Wall, if you will,” Jorgeson said about their feat. Thank you Kevin and Tommy, for that dousing of inspiration. Who knows how many people's lives you have moved beyond their 15.
12
Congratulations! And thank you Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson for the lessons in commitment, focus, perseverance, determination, and love.
20
I went into the comments because I was curious to see how long it would be before people started carping about what these two men achieved and how they achieved it. Not long!
People, whatever minimal equipment they used to inch their way along; or to keep from plunging to their deaths (would *that*have made the experience more legit to you?); or to give themselves the opportunity to eat and sleep, what they did was an incredible achievement! No one has ever done this with such bare-bones assistance.
Yes, their are terrible things happening in the world. Their climb did not bring about world peace. But neither does this joyless, sour, suspicious, nitpicking contempt that some of you commentators are displaying. Geez. Only people who have accomplished absolutely nothing of value in their lives could be this grudging. Why don't you get back to the rest of us when you've done something to be proud of?
People, whatever minimal equipment they used to inch their way along; or to keep from plunging to their deaths (would *that*have made the experience more legit to you?); or to give themselves the opportunity to eat and sleep, what they did was an incredible achievement! No one has ever done this with such bare-bones assistance.
Yes, their are terrible things happening in the world. Their climb did not bring about world peace. But neither does this joyless, sour, suspicious, nitpicking contempt that some of you commentators are displaying. Geez. Only people who have accomplished absolutely nothing of value in their lives could be this grudging. Why don't you get back to the rest of us when you've done something to be proud of?
107
I was in TOTAL agreement with you until you wrote...
"Only people who have accomplished absolutely nothing of value in their lives could be this grudging. Why don't you get back to the rest of us when you've done something to be proud of?"
Wow. Very disappointing that you would scold these people for their narrow-minded criticism and then extend the exact same type of criticism and judgment yourself.
"Only people who have accomplished absolutely nothing of value in their lives could be this grudging. Why don't you get back to the rest of us when you've done something to be proud of?"
Wow. Very disappointing that you would scold these people for their narrow-minded criticism and then extend the exact same type of criticism and judgment yourself.
12
Right on Patricia - isn't it amazing how fast we can fall into the trap of doing exactly what we accuse others of doing? I think if "why not" had taken a breath and re-read what he wrote he would have caught himself. I have had a very difficult time in my frustration with the people who clearly did not read the articles or denigrated the accomplishments of the climbers, not becoming sarcastic or insulting to them. I comfort myself that I usually have the restraint to not say everything I am thinking especially when I am feeling some heat :) I really like that most commenters on the NYTs are respectful and thoughtful.
6
I wish I could "like" your comment a hundred times. You perfectly encapsulate my sentiments towards those who sit comfortable behind their screens in heated rooms and tell these guys what they did was worthless. I found them an inspiration, and they have caused me to do some goal reshuffling.
1
A week ago we witnessed the appalling spectacle of two evil young men brutally cutting down the lives of a group of cartoonists in Paris. (Not to mention their colleague who killed people at a kosher supermarket.)
In light of that, it’s a joy to witness two admirable young men – Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgensen – achieve their remarkable, life-affirming feat. The world needs more young men like Tommy and Kevin, and fewer than the Kouachi brothers.
In light of that, it’s a joy to witness two admirable young men – Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgensen – achieve their remarkable, life-affirming feat. The world needs more young men like Tommy and Kevin, and fewer than the Kouachi brothers.
23
Well, the world just got a whole lot better.
15
Amazing, the stamina, athleticism and coordination, etc. Yet, it would be more impressive if you had not written about it until after the fact, and they had simply done it. The more athletic achievements become part of some tweeting, facebook, you tube media circus, the less they become achievements. Are they now going to shave for Schick or Gillette?
2
The climbers can afford to take the time and undergo the expense for a climb like this only because .... this is their job. They are professional climbers. They are sponsored by companies, who want the climb written about, hence the media circus. It would be nice if people could climb for the love of it alone and ignore the media, but that luxury is reserved for the rich who don't need financial support. I hope you don't mean to say, only the already-rich should pursue amazing feats. And besides, I enjoyed reading about it.
10
If they get an endorsement they friggin deserve it. After the fact? Hard to hide it in a park with thousands of visitors and 19 days to accomplish it. Add years of training and it's a story through and through. If your hands look like theirs then maybe you can be a purest, but there is no lessening of their achievement.
8
Reading about it as it happened in the present brought the story to "life" and engaged people from all walks of life for 19 days... not just 10 minutes. I loved it!
3
Free soloing, to me, is sublime and heroic, because it risks death against the backdrop of a terrible and unforgiving nature. This climb and the rhetoric around it tried to claim for itself that aspect of the sublime. But ultimately, when the risk is eliminated and multiple attempts are allowed, what is left is an extraordinary achievement of athleticism, technique and planning, a technological mastery of a task through individual skill, teamwork and resources, but still a feat which no matter how extraordinary, does not qualify as sublime and heroic, there being no element of risking death or sudden failure.
6
John, This would have been a risky venture without the safety nets. This was sublime and heroic. and I feel they took many risks that qualify them as extraordinary exemplars of whatever it is you are talking about.
5
Climbers using ropes are killed all of the time. It only takes one miss-tied knot, or a sharp edge of rock or a loose piece of rock to end it all. While climbing may not be heroic, it certainly is dangerous, even with ropes.
11
Yo, John. Head on out and duplicate it...
9
Finally something to feel good about. Tears and cheers for you. Thanks for the light of your shining spirit. Had a thought that might amuse you when first saw close ups of the areas you were working on, that your mountain resembled a rotated version of what we see on Mars, that desert going straight up with you as explorers of that world.
3
OK, SI/ Sports Illustrated, put this feat on the next cover...It is every bit as compelling and significant in terms of athletics and inspirational with endurance, tenacity, courage and team work including both Caldwell and Jorgeson
20
My next SI has Ohio State on the cover. But they do do separate covers some time. Maybe you got the special edition for 33 rock climbing subscribers and I got the general one for the million readers more interested in college football.
Interesting, thanks! Even though I am an alum of OSU, I would still like to see Caldwell & Jorgeson on the cover with no slight to my alma mater...Still SI does a great job and there will be coverage.
1
Fun and interesting, and a nice break from the bad news of the world. Thanks guys, great accomplishment.
15
Use all the hot water you want! Congrats Tommy and Kevin on your great feat!!
13
And your great feet (and hands).
7
In reading through these comments there are surprisingly a number of folks who want to make a point that free climbing El Capitan is not a laudable goal because it doesn't advance human civilization or solve a vexing world problem. What a bunch of party poopers! No one, certainly not the climbers, suggested their achievement was about social triumph. That doesn't mean it wasn't a huge accomplishment nonetheless. Extremely difficult and quite dangerous. If it had been easier, it would have been done before. Bravo!
32
The people who write those comments are mostly lawyers and accountants and investment bankers who are understandably judgmental since they themselves do so much to advance human civilization.
5
It is almost as impressive as curing cancer, bravo.
Why can't you try to make your point without insulting whole classes of other people? My dad was an accountant and one of the most heroic people I know. He served in WWI.
1
Next time I get stuck and don't know the way, or the problem seems just to hard or too long or too overwhelming, I'm going remember what Tommy and Kevin did here. And I'll be inspired to press on.
95
Did you write "You'll never walk alone"?
From Day 1 I followed NYT's coverage of these amazing athletes and was hooked from the "get-go". What a fantastic ride and achievement by Caldwell and Jorgeson; and I have NYT's riveting story-telling/coverage to thank for it. Simply phenomenal!
15
Truly impressive! It took talent. Great reporting.
8
thanks for the show and well done guys from this armchair greying mountaineer
( whose legs still fill with blood when i see a breakaway watching hockey)
( whose legs still fill with blood when i see a breakaway watching hockey)
5
Amazing feat. I simply couldn't read any more than the headlines of coverage that are unavoidable in skimming the front page. When I was younger and healthier I was never "insane" enough to do this on anywhere near the scale these two natural athletes proved was perfectly reasonable -- with enough dedication. It's inspiring to hear of their successful endeavor.
6
Certainly an impressive achievement, but one taken without much risk. Looks to me like hundreds, if not thousands, of chinups and pullups. Not sure if this one will stand the test of time along with such great expeditions as the races to the North Pole and the Antarctic, the free dives to unthinkable depths, Kon Tiki, and, dare I say it, Mars One.
6
Theres a ton of risk. Just because they have ropes does not mean they cannot be seriously injured or die. These guys are amazing atheltes. World class. Its like a 10 second 100m dash only a handful are ever even capable.
14
I agree. Risk has to be part of any great ground-breaking adventure. This looks riskier to the layman than it is. Overrated.
1
Geez Alan!
One of the great things about trying just about every activity or athletic feat in 65 years of living, is to be able to understand just how TOUGH such feats are!
The Dawn Wall of El Capitan is 3,000 feet straight up. Find yourself a 30 story building. Then imagine it is slick glass with only tiny cracks in the face. And sometimes you have to crawl back and forth to even find a path upward...find those microscopic fissures. Now do those "pullups" with only your fingertips crammed into granite cracks...as you look below 2500 feet~830 yds--EIGHT FULL football fields straight down! Now your heart rate is going about 200 clicks a minute. Your pullups are from a position where your arms are in full extension...and your toes are gripping the tiniest space...slipping out from beneath you.
Probably wasting my time here. What they did was such an incredible feat that I'm unsure if anyone will repeat this. Just incredible!
One of the great things about trying just about every activity or athletic feat in 65 years of living, is to be able to understand just how TOUGH such feats are!
The Dawn Wall of El Capitan is 3,000 feet straight up. Find yourself a 30 story building. Then imagine it is slick glass with only tiny cracks in the face. And sometimes you have to crawl back and forth to even find a path upward...find those microscopic fissures. Now do those "pullups" with only your fingertips crammed into granite cracks...as you look below 2500 feet~830 yds--EIGHT FULL football fields straight down! Now your heart rate is going about 200 clicks a minute. Your pullups are from a position where your arms are in full extension...and your toes are gripping the tiniest space...slipping out from beneath you.
Probably wasting my time here. What they did was such an incredible feat that I'm unsure if anyone will repeat this. Just incredible!
16
Congratulations to Tommy and Kevin. Was there any doubt in their quest?
2
They took us with them! Bless their hearts. Great, great job.
11
I am unable to climb a sturdy ladder without being in fear of my life. So what these guys have done is truly astounding to me. It's unimaginable to me. Bravo!
24
I like this--but--betcha they won't go down the same way!
Can anyone? Has anyone?
Can anyone? Has anyone?
1
I'm sorry Victor but what has the descent to do with it?
Going down is easy...rappel. It's a law of physics called gravity. That's why it is so difficult to go UP. Gravity.
You just descend the back side...easier path. Hard to remember who first "descended" Everest...but I sure remember when Edmund Hillary and his climbing companion sherpa climbed to the top!
Going down is easy...rappel. It's a law of physics called gravity. That's why it is so difficult to go UP. Gravity.
You just descend the back side...easier path. Hard to remember who first "descended" Everest...but I sure remember when Edmund Hillary and his climbing companion sherpa climbed to the top!
2
They will rappel on the fixed ropes to the bottom. They still need to break down their camp, load it into haul bags and lower them and themselves down to the bottom. This isn't a "walk-off" They've got a bit more work to do. Congrats to you both Tommy and Kevin! What a feat.
2
Watching the live footage, I saw them haul several bags to the top as they were completing the final pitch. They may have already cleaned all of their gear.
Congratulations!
El Capitan is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I hope to get to see it again, but not as intimately as these two. :)
El Capitan is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I hope to get to see it again, but not as intimately as these two. :)
3
Congratulations, Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Jorgenson.
4
Amazing! Congratulations and thanks for the inpsiring vision you had to complete this climb, along with the tenacity to fulfill the dream.
5
This is like swimming from Cuba to Florida by breaking the swim into lengths, resting an arbitrary amount of time on a boat between each leg, and retrying each leg if necessary.
6
It would be "like" that if swimming were as difficult as free climbing; it's not, so it's not.
18
And tying up all the sharks with safety ropes.
3
I have done some modest climbing in California, Skyline Drive, Virginia and elsewhere when the opportunity presented itself. (Enough to get into trouble a couple of times.) No mountains: Bouldering will do.
The lure, in part, is playing a vertical chess match. From the first time I looked upon mountains, the idea was immediately in my head: how would you go up? What would be the best route? How long would it take? Would you then be too tired to get back down safely? Every moment is a challenge and every successful challenge met is its own reward.
Every single time I have read a story about this climb my palms sweat and I get nervous thinking about what they've been doing.
I don't understand this. I don't understand how they did it, how anyone could do it. It seems utterly impossible. Fundamentally what they have done is hold themselves to the slab of granite with their hands and feet and then plotted how they could move upward without falling. PLUS, they have leapt from one position to another when required, finding a new hold and making themselves stick.
I don't understand this. I don't understand how they did it or how it could be done. I am in awe, sort of like a man from the 18th century who one day walked around a corner and saw jet planes in the air. Stunned.
Congratulations, dudes. Please don't do this again. Leave the Dawn Wall alone. Use ropes and pitons and whatever else you might need.
Doug Terry
The lure, in part, is playing a vertical chess match. From the first time I looked upon mountains, the idea was immediately in my head: how would you go up? What would be the best route? How long would it take? Would you then be too tired to get back down safely? Every moment is a challenge and every successful challenge met is its own reward.
Every single time I have read a story about this climb my palms sweat and I get nervous thinking about what they've been doing.
I don't understand this. I don't understand how they did it, how anyone could do it. It seems utterly impossible. Fundamentally what they have done is hold themselves to the slab of granite with their hands and feet and then plotted how they could move upward without falling. PLUS, they have leapt from one position to another when required, finding a new hold and making themselves stick.
I don't understand this. I don't understand how they did it or how it could be done. I am in awe, sort of like a man from the 18th century who one day walked around a corner and saw jet planes in the air. Stunned.
Congratulations, dudes. Please don't do this again. Leave the Dawn Wall alone. Use ropes and pitons and whatever else you might need.
Doug Terry
30
They worked out the route in advance, So it was like playing chess in a safe place and replaying the same game when it counted,
1
Terry? You are telling two unbelievable athletes not to do a climb? "Leave the Dawn Wall alone?"
Then tell them to use ropes and pitons next time? They DID use ropes and pitons...to stop their fall when they slipped off the face. The very LAST thing that the Dawn Wall needs is to be destroyed by hundreds of wannabees going up with carabineers, pitons (most of them left in place by lazy technical climbers.) and ropes.
I'm flummoxed..Why?
Then tell them to use ropes and pitons next time? They DID use ropes and pitons...to stop their fall when they slipped off the face. The very LAST thing that the Dawn Wall needs is to be destroyed by hundreds of wannabees going up with carabineers, pitons (most of them left in place by lazy technical climbers.) and ropes.
I'm flummoxed..Why?
2
OK, this is getting silly. Michjas I need to see your climbing resume. You must be someone very accomplished in outdoor pursuits.
Inspiring to anyone who seeks to challenge their own limits. Find your own Dawn Wall and take it on.
15
Many thanks to NYTimes photographer Max Whittaker for the stupendous pictures.
29
amazing, amazing! a feat of planning, perseverance, and execution.
Of note - Tommy Caldwell cut off part of his finger in 2001 with a table saw! makes it even more amazing
Of note - Tommy Caldwell cut off part of his finger in 2001 with a table saw! makes it even more amazing
11
Congratulations to Mssrs. Caldwell and Jorgeson! You demonstrated planning, teamwork, conditioning, perseverance and courage. Recognition also goes out to your support team on and off the wall.
Heeding your challenge, I'm inspired to take on Half Dome this summer - with the cables, please!
Heeding your challenge, I'm inspired to take on Half Dome this summer - with the cables, please!
1
Good job. But it's been done before. This advances mankind . . .how?
4
This was the first FREE CLIMB of el capitan. It has NOT been done before, and its unlikely it will be again in the near future. This advanced mankind by humbling people like you are jaded and quite possibly resentful of their stamina.
15
Like your name...it fits.
4
Trust me - I am not resentful of their stamina; I've an excess of it myself and it's admittedly a problem knowing what to do with it all. I do, however, envy their free time -- nearly three weeks goofing off crawling up a rock like a salamander. And if 'free climb' distinguishes these chaps from the other 1,000 or so who've scaled El Cap before, perhaps the next fellow can do it in the nude, creating another utterly meaningless "first."
4
Congratulations, Tommy and Kevin!! Well done. Amazing. Now, you are rock-climbing immortals.
6
Thank you New York Times for your fine coverage of this very cool story.
You couldn't have know it, but it turned out to be a nice antidote to the recent installment of the ongoing nightmare of Islamic terrorism.
You couldn't have know it, but it turned out to be a nice antidote to the recent installment of the ongoing nightmare of Islamic terrorism.
15
You are right - it was a breath of fresh air, as well as so informative to someone like me who didn't even know what free climbing was and has never been to Yosemite. I found myself mesmerized, every day starting with seeking out every word, picture, comment and following trails into my computer reading about other climbers, their stories and viewing their pictures of utterly breathtaking beautiful Yosemite.
3
Kathleen, you might like the following books:
Stories Off The Wall by John Rosekelly
Everest, The West Ridge by Thomas Hornbein
Rock Climbing by Royal Robbins
Climbing Ice by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia)
Stories Off The Wall by John Rosekelly
Everest, The West Ridge by Thomas Hornbein
Rock Climbing by Royal Robbins
Climbing Ice by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia)
Here's a link to video of the guys reaching the summit.
http://goo.gl/Gv121r
http://goo.gl/Gv121r
7
For those of you who have seen this huge piece of granite you will agree that this feat is mind boggling...
10
WOW! AWESOME!
I feel such gratitude, such joy.
Thanks to Jorgeson and Caldwell for attempting and achieving the impossible;
Thanks to the NY Times for the coverage.
In ways that are beyond my words to explain, I know that you have enriched us all with your extraordinary feat: BRAVO!
I feel such gratitude, such joy.
Thanks to Jorgeson and Caldwell for attempting and achieving the impossible;
Thanks to the NY Times for the coverage.
In ways that are beyond my words to explain, I know that you have enriched us all with your extraordinary feat: BRAVO!
36
I get nervous on the next-to-last step on my 8-foot stepladder. What these guys did is beyond comprehension.
83
Fair enough. This step ladder comparison gives us a benchmark for what is "beyond comprehension" for NYT readers.
The brothership of the rope at its absolute apogee.
Beautiful send!
Beautiful send!
11
Athletes of the year! if not the decade
8
I was interested in this climb and decided to read up on it. That was when I came across Kevin Jorgeson's website bio, which identifies him as: "Athlete. Instructor. Speaker. Entrepreneur." With that last word, I lost interest. Was this stunt motivated by the prospect of endorsement deals? We'll see...
1
You don't think people should try to make money doing what they love and what they're passionate about?
11
Climbing like this is not a stunt. It is a sport like any other with no endorsement deals at the end. There is unimaginable beauty in moving one's body against rock. Free-climbing is the essence of this this beauty. It is an experience like no other.
9
How else could these guys have had the time (7 years) to plan and execute. Monetary compensation ruins this for you?
You do understand the term "professional athlete" don't you? Were the catches of football rookie NY Giant Odell Beckham Jr (2014) or NY Giant David Tyree (2008) both thrown by Eli Manning lessened by the fact that they were paid?
Heck no! Professional athletes can do things NONE of us could even attempt! And we are amazed and greatly entertained!
You do understand the term "professional athlete" don't you? Were the catches of football rookie NY Giant Odell Beckham Jr (2014) or NY Giant David Tyree (2008) both thrown by Eli Manning lessened by the fact that they were paid?
Heck no! Professional athletes can do things NONE of us could even attempt! And we are amazed and greatly entertained!
6
Most appropriate occasion to quote lines from the end of the poem, Tennyson's ‘Ulysses’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will,
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Congratulations! Awe inspiring feat!
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will,
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Congratulations! Awe inspiring feat!
18
Kudos to the climbers - and the great photo coverage by Tom Evans and Corey Rich. Thanks to the NYT for the coverage - we need more of this.
27
Sane people with the distractions of busy lives and world headlines (I wonder if anyone has taken a moment to tell these two dudes that these headlines got catastrophically worse while they were climbing a rock) will shake their heads and wonder . . . why?
5
What should they have been doing as "headlines got catastrophically worse while they were climbing a rock"? What do we know about them apart from a sense of wonder and appreciation?
5
Sobbing in the dark while steering well clear of the windows, presumably.
1
We all need a break from the terrible things in the headlines - especially you BL. Watching these climbers achieve their amazingly difficult goal gifted me a lightness, joy and a sense of awe that lifted my heart every day after reading the other sobering, exhausting, hope-destroying, sad, sad, sad headlines.
4
Congratulations! It is great to see young men accomplishing something with courage and perseverance--and no violence!
25
My fingers hurt just reading this article.
6
You should see a doctor about this condition!
1
This incredible climb is inspirational and a much needed reminder of what the human spirit can accomplish with hard work, careful planning and true grit. After weeks of depressing news highlighting the worst side of human nature, the success of the seemingly impossible climb gives us hope. Heaven knows we needed it. Thank you.
27
I made sure to share this story with my students today! It is a rare combination of audacity, beauty, determination, skill and perseverance! John Muir would be proud.
30
It's great and all that. But no doubt these guys climbed it using the artificial aid protection that was already in place before they tried to "free" it, perhaps several times. It's not exactly the same as starting at the bottom of an unclimbed route and figuring how to make it go as you go along, without any hindsight. When I started rock-climbing, the mantra was bring a pair of sneakers and your lunch. Now it's more like earning an advanced degree and getting endorsement money from Adidas.
18
That's a reasonable opinion for 5.10, but I don't believe hard routes on big walls really get on-sighted. Anything at the leading edge of difficulty is going to be approached with a different method than the way the rest of us average climbers would.
12
There's "no doubt" because Caldwell and Jorgeson freely acknowledge spending years scouting every inch of the route, going so far as mapping out exactly what finger of what hand will go where on each pitch. They climbed at night so their shoes would stick better and their fingers would be less sweaty. Their climb is to what you did in your sneakers as swimming 100 yards in your pool is to swimming the English Channel.
17
Geez. Grab your sneakers and your lunch and give it a shot, then.
The hardest things to do call for complex planning and much assistance. As the climbers said, find your Dawn Wall and find out for yourself.
The hardest things to do call for complex planning and much assistance. As the climbers said, find your Dawn Wall and find out for yourself.
13
So amazing! You know what would be neat? A 3-D Imax movie of their adventure (similar to the Imax film Everest). Could the video taken be turned into something like that? Then we could really appreciate what they accomplished. Plus it would be so thrilling for us couch potatoes!
6
Unfortunately, people who are afraid of heights likely would not enjoy the movie. I am fine with the pictures looking across the valley or looking up. The ones looking down give me the willies.
At one point on the last day one of the climbers stopped a moment, braced a foot and knee against the wall, and curled the other foot up so that he could clear a pebble or something from his shoe. I can barely do that standing on a flat floor and this guy was 2,800 feet up a cliff standing on a barely visible ledge/crack! As he was mid-pitch he could not lean on the ropes either.
At one point on the last day one of the climbers stopped a moment, braced a foot and knee against the wall, and curled the other foot up so that he could clear a pebble or something from his shoe. I can barely do that standing on a flat floor and this guy was 2,800 feet up a cliff standing on a barely visible ledge/crack! As he was mid-pitch he could not lean on the ropes either.
Some of the photographers and videographers on the wall during the ascent were from Big Up Productions, a film company who produce the Reel Rock film series each year. Without a doubt, there will be a documentary on the Dawn Wall in one of the next few Reel Rock films.
I recently drove through the Shawangunks in upstate New York, and it got me thinking about why people hammer in pitons and hang off of cliffs, "for fun." It's not something I could ever imagine doing, but to those who excel at this amazing sport, I say bravo. I can't even imagine how nice your bed is going to feel tonight!
4
Congrats... and well done!
5
This is truly one of the most remarkable achievements in human history. The fact it was accomplished in winter, is mind blowing. 19 days. 19 days on a wall of granite with nothing but your hands, fingers, legs, rope... and a partner. BRAVO
130
Winter was the only time that the dawn wall could have been climbed. In any other season the direct sunlight would cause the climbers to overheat. Their sweaty hands would lose purchase on the rock and they wouldn't be able to grip the tiny holds of the more difficult pitches. Plus, the weather was down right balmy throughout the attempt. I don't mean to take anything away from the accomplishment, which I consider to be downright monumental. But the season is not what makes it impressive to me.
7
“One of the most remarkable achievements in human history?”
Climbing a wall?
In my book, the remarkable achievements in human history are those such
as the invention of the Polio Vaccine, robotic artificial limbs that enable veterans & others who have lost limbs to walk, treatments and vaccines for all manner of illnesses,to be “remarkable achievements in human history.”
I can thing of many remarkable achievements in human history.None of them involves climbing a wall,. What has this climb done for OTHERS? Absolutely nothing.
Climbing a wall?
In my book, the remarkable achievements in human history are those such
as the invention of the Polio Vaccine, robotic artificial limbs that enable veterans & others who have lost limbs to walk, treatments and vaccines for all manner of illnesses,to be “remarkable achievements in human history.”
I can thing of many remarkable achievements in human history.None of them involves climbing a wall,. What has this climb done for OTHERS? Absolutely nothing.
7
It was hardly done with nothing but your hands fingers and rope.
Notice that they are not shown carrying any packs. They may have hauled up some equipments on separate lines. BUT they also had external support which periodically supplied them with food and water.
It may have been a tour de force in rock climbing. But it was hardly mountaineering, much less the effort of two men completely on their own.
Notice that they are not shown carrying any packs. They may have hauled up some equipments on separate lines. BUT they also had external support which periodically supplied them with food and water.
It may have been a tour de force in rock climbing. But it was hardly mountaineering, much less the effort of two men completely on their own.
3
Wonderful accomplishment!!! Congrats!!
4
Congratulations! ...Now I can stop worrying. Thanks NYT for making us a part of this fantastic adventure.
31
This has been amazing to watch. Congratulations Tommy and Kevin! Thanks to the NYT for great coverage.
5
This is a bright beacon of inspiration in an otherwise dark couple weeks of news. Kudos to both these gents for such a truly brilliant achievement!
11
An amazing accomplishment. I have to admit, the story made me quite nervous, worrying that one of them would fall. Congratulations to them! How were they able to sleep while ascending?
1
They fell many, many times. The ropes were in place to catch their falls, not assist their climbing upwards. No one has climbed El Cap without any ropes at all.
8
Congratulations for your sheer perseverance as individuals and as a team.
Your years of planning, hard work and determination to achieve something you truly believe in admirable and should be a role model to all.
Your years of planning, hard work and determination to achieve something you truly believe in admirable and should be a role model to all.
10
All the bloodshed and nightmarish chaos of our world makes this story of grit, determination & cooperation go down so easily. Thanks for reminding us that we can achieve greatness, reach the top, of whatever our sweet dreams may hold. Three cheers!
15
This looks amazing, but why were ropes used? If there were no ropes, it would seem much more audacious. Also, they went into the tent every night...
2
Par 4: "Ropes were merely safety devices to break the occasional fall."
7
Ah, they would be dead without ropes, which catch them when they fall. So suicidal, not audacious.
7
The climbing community as a whole respects free soloists (climbers who don't use ropes) but hardly view their achievements as the most notable or compelling. I have respect for climbers like Alex Honnold, but to claim that his ascents, which are on routes that he is absolutely certain that he can climb without falling, are hardly more audacious than this or representative of the pinnacle of the sport.
The Dawn Wall (5.14d) which is the hardest multi-pitch climb in the world, or La Dura Dura (5.15c), the hardest sport climb in the world can not be free soloed. There is such a low percentage of success that it would be stupidity and ignorance, not worthy of any praise, for a climber to attempt such a feat.
The Dawn Wall (5.14d) which is the hardest multi-pitch climb in the world, or La Dura Dura (5.15c), the hardest sport climb in the world can not be free soloed. There is such a low percentage of success that it would be stupidity and ignorance, not worthy of any praise, for a climber to attempt such a feat.
1
If thy had not spent years using ropes to climb up and down the face of the wall to find the best route this might be a great story. But they did. If they didn't use ropes and didn't have team of supporters ferrying food and water and supplies to them it would be a great story. But they did, Well orchestrated like a business; just like the everything in America sadly.
12
it's an impressive achievement, I certainly could not do it, but they didn't climb unaided or non-stop.
2
@andrewmcdonald. you need to review what 5.14d means. It's a great story to me.
5
Any superb and great endeavor takes planning. By your reckoning, going to the moon would have been great if someone climbed in a tin can which was attached to a giant rocket, and lighted a fuse with a flintstone from inside the tin can. This was an ode to concentration, spirit, commitment. It takes a team to do things. Ye olde fables of individual super human efforts deployed by men to sing their own praises have again and again been proven to be a tad bit exaggerated - and often leave out the tales of the scaffold that got them there. Why in the world why why why would you think to diminish such an effort. Another reader suggested it would have been great if they had done it in one day, another implied that it was cheating to be able to rest, and yet another implied that a real man would have just let himself fall to his death instead of doing something to prevent a free fall. Wow. Gotta wonder ... Just because it was thoughtful, thought out, orchestrated and tried not to die does not a lame attempt make. Bravo climbers of iron, you done good.
18
Humans climb because chimpanzees climb. It's in our DNA.
2
Amazing! Congratulations to both of you and all of the people who supported you on your quest. Thanks, NYTimes, for keeping me in the loop on this. It's helping with the winter blahs.
18
this is a great achievement for them. they have earned it. furthermore, they have created history.
7
Bravo, a historical achievement.
Well covered, NYT.
Well covered, NYT.
22
Congratulations!
5
Athletics with no ads interrupting the video coverage and activities that cause no appreciable environmental damage are both worthwhile. This achievement had both.
24
Such a way with words, you ;)
How I wish more men of this caliber; men who know the meaning of selflessness, teamwork and hard work, would go climb that dunghill called Washington and give this country hope again.
89
I will give it to the gentlemen on teamwork and perseverance, but I do not view this climb as selfless. This appears to me to be a most narcissistic event, not unlike "climbing" Mt. Everest.
A few western folks and obviously a larger number of native sherpas have truly ever climbed Mt. Everest. The rest defiled the sacred peak to add another notch on their belt and achieve a false immortality. I viewed high resolution images of Mount Everest and was horrified by the amount of trash and discarded airtanks that spoiled climbers have left upon that mountain.
This was both a most unnatural climb and a great feat of perseverance and climbing skills, but I also see it as a desecration of a sacred trust. Everything must be conquered, for the sake of conquering, but we lose as much or more than we gain.
I wonder who will hold the concession to ferry climbers up the face for the annual Dawn Wall Winter Free Climb 2022, 21 day, $75,000.00per person excursion. It will become just another required feather in the cap of that small number of well heeled adventurers who bounce between Aspen, Gstaad and assorted World Capitals, devouring the world and claiming to save it at the same time. Oh my, but it will be a nice anecdote for the cocktail hour. This climb is many things, but selfless it is not.
A few western folks and obviously a larger number of native sherpas have truly ever climbed Mt. Everest. The rest defiled the sacred peak to add another notch on their belt and achieve a false immortality. I viewed high resolution images of Mount Everest and was horrified by the amount of trash and discarded airtanks that spoiled climbers have left upon that mountain.
This was both a most unnatural climb and a great feat of perseverance and climbing skills, but I also see it as a desecration of a sacred trust. Everything must be conquered, for the sake of conquering, but we lose as much or more than we gain.
I wonder who will hold the concession to ferry climbers up the face for the annual Dawn Wall Winter Free Climb 2022, 21 day, $75,000.00per person excursion. It will become just another required feather in the cap of that small number of well heeled adventurers who bounce between Aspen, Gstaad and assorted World Capitals, devouring the world and claiming to save it at the same time. Oh my, but it will be a nice anecdote for the cocktail hour. This climb is many things, but selfless it is not.
2
Considering this has been a 10 year project for Caldwell and the media began paying attention a few days ago, I would hardly say that this is a "narcissistic" accomplishment.
This ascent is nothing like Everest and the scenario that you've described is both absurd and ignorant. This was not an "unnatural climb." It was an ascent done in what the climbing community considers "good style" just as thousands of others are done without comment from people like yourself every year.
This ascent is nothing like Everest and the scenario that you've described is both absurd and ignorant. This was not an "unnatural climb." It was an ascent done in what the climbing community considers "good style" just as thousands of others are done without comment from people like yourself every year.
1
Jane: THANK YOU for a new image: our current Congress members as dung beetles. Wonderful.
Whew! So glad they're safe and at the top.
18
So impressive and inspirational. Congratulations!
8
Congrats to these two Olympia-bound climbers. Their determination was something that unfolded before our eyes and it was inspirational. That we all could feel that sort of achievement, once in a lifetime.
But imagine if the two unfurled the new cover of Charlie Hebdo down the side of El Captain! Would the NYT have shown it?
[Sorry. I know. It's not political. But the articles are side by side online and you can't easily ignore the distractions/impact (or lack thereof) of 24/7 news.]
But imagine if the two unfurled the new cover of Charlie Hebdo down the side of El Captain! Would the NYT have shown it?
[Sorry. I know. It's not political. But the articles are side by side online and you can't easily ignore the distractions/impact (or lack thereof) of 24/7 news.]
2
These guys are super human athletes, no doubt, who have done something that perhaps no one else on Earth can. And given my meager physical prowess, I am nothing but a casual observer. But I have to say, despite the term free-climbing, there is something about this that just seems inelegant and contrived. This climb is just so difficult, that truly, as great as these climbers are, they were really no match for the mountain. The Dawn Wall is so difficult it required the climbers to spend nearly two weeks on the route. They fell repeatedly trying to climb some of the pitches. They raised themselves up and down the face using ropes to reach various points instead of climbing continuously up. And when I watched some of the live video, it appeared to me they leaned back on the rope often to rest and chalk their hands. So to me this climb is reminiscent of the first attempts to do climbs like the north face of the Eiger, in which large teams using aid climbing techniques took weeks to do what has now been done on a number of occasions in less than a day. Their feats were impressive for the era, but clunky by modern standards. Perhaps in the future, some unfathomably gifted climbers will climb the Dawn Wall in a day. But for now, this accomplishment, singular as it was, to me is just lacking in beauty and finesse.
9
Nonsense.
24
Ridiculous.
Regarding resting by leaning back, that is at anchors and is absolutely standard practice for any multipitch rock climb that is too steep to offer a stance. It's called a hanging belay.
Regarding resting by leaning back, that is at anchors and is absolutely standard practice for any multipitch rock climb that is too steep to offer a stance. It's called a hanging belay.
27
Most of the routes that have been "freed" on El Capitan have been freed in long lasting attempts which at some point required resting on ropes, returning to base camps, and even though every pitch on a "freed" route has been free climbed hardware is still used as a crutch to help make that possible, and there might be many falls taken or rests on ropes before any given pitch is finally "freed". I do not believe anybody has ever climbed a big wall route on El Capitan without at some point using aid, resting on the rope (or rappelling) or taking a fall. Climbing should aspire to a point where the hardware is only there as a backup, and not required, and free climbing attempts to realize this goal. I think the reason Alex Honnold is so inspiring to many is because he takes this attitude to its logical conclusion.
I sometimes also feel that successful attempts at freeing big wall routes are a bit contrived, because they don't quite reach that standard of climbing a route without relying on gear, but what they at least do is show that a particular route could in theory be climbed without relying on gear. Maybe someday someone with the skills and confidence to do so safely will be able to "send" or even free solo the Dawn Wall with no falls and only natural rests that don't rely on the rope. In the meantime, Caldwell and Jorgenson's achievement at least makes such a possibility conceivable, and that counts for something.
I sometimes also feel that successful attempts at freeing big wall routes are a bit contrived, because they don't quite reach that standard of climbing a route without relying on gear, but what they at least do is show that a particular route could in theory be climbed without relying on gear. Maybe someday someone with the skills and confidence to do so safely will be able to "send" or even free solo the Dawn Wall with no falls and only natural rests that don't rely on the rope. In the meantime, Caldwell and Jorgenson's achievement at least makes such a possibility conceivable, and that counts for something.
3
FINALLY a story worth reporting in the Times!!!!
Hooray for Tommy!!
Hooray for Kevin!!
Hooray for Tommy!!
Hooray for Kevin!!
5
Amazing
8
This is a great story and very inspiring.
I would also like to thank the NYT for teaching me rock climbing = good, football = evil.
I would also like to thank the NYT for teaching me rock climbing = good, football = evil.
71
Football bad because of concussions and money. Rock climbers risk death and earn lots of money. Football bad because NYT says so. Rock climbing good for same reason. Both are lucrative dangerous sports. Daily News like both because both test human limits. But Daily News tabloid and therefore not for smart people.
Hummmmm, rock climbers earn lots of money? No. The most famous rock climbers in the world earn NOTHING compared to other sports. They do it for love. Alex Hannold, arguably one of the most famous climbers in the world, lives out of his van in Yosemite Valley. Sure, he does fine and gets lots of free gear, but he is not a mega millionaire.
21
Climbers earn very little money. The highest paid adventure athletes in the world earn much less in sponsorship than the league minimum in any major professional team sport in the United States. Alex Honnold lives in a van by choice. He could easily afford to live in a house or an apartment. But he would never be able to afford the average home of an NBA player.
michjas, the NYT may write articles about the impact of concussions on athletes, but the day to day coverage of football in this newspaper does not tend to paint the sport in a negative light. The vast majority of sports articles simply report the wins and losses of the teams, with no qualitative reporting on whether the sports are good or bad.
michjas, the NYT may write articles about the impact of concussions on athletes, but the day to day coverage of football in this newspaper does not tend to paint the sport in a negative light. The vast majority of sports articles simply report the wins and losses of the teams, with no qualitative reporting on whether the sports are good or bad.
8
What I liked best is that even though this climb was about an individual's endurance, focus and ability, it was also about team work. Those days when Jorgneson could not move past the 15th pitch, and the way Caldwell never gave up on him, never tried to reach the top by himself, ; and Jorgenson tryiing and trying to overcome the 15th pitch and not wanting his team mate to wait for him.....all of that was I think the best thing about their efforts.
Congratulations for reaching the top, and for never giving up on each other.
Congratulations for reaching the top, and for never giving up on each other.
253
Kudos to the support crew around them, for without them, this incredible feat would not have been grasped.
15
¡Felicidades de México!
7
George Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Everest in the 1920s said
"Because it's there."
At that time the abbot of the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet, Dzatrul Rinpoche, said,
"I feel great compassion for them to suffer so much for such meaningless work."
His frozen body was discovered in 1999.
In California’s beatnik climbing circles, Warren Harding completed the first ascent of Yosemite’s grandest wall with his partner, Dean Caldwell.
When asked why he climbed, he responded, succinctly:
“Because we are insane.”
No comment.
11
Lionel Terray entitled his book on mountaineering "Conquistadors of the Useless," which also sums it up pretty well.
6
Enjoy your living room sofa.
44
Teacher Christa McCauliffe ventured into outer space to teach students a lesson, saying "Reach for it. Push yourself as far as you can." Ain't that the truth?
12
There's more than one way to "take you higher" - and it's not Sly and the Family Stone. Congrats to Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson - they've taken all of us to an all time high. Amazing.
17
Edge of the seat, spectacular chase with victorious arrival! Now we can exhale.
Thanks for the thrill, good health, many happy climbings, and thanks to the NYT.
Thanks for the thrill, good health, many happy climbings, and thanks to the NYT.
66
Thankfully the two men made it thus conquering the challenge without loss of life which will dissuade others less able to try and fail with disasterous results.
It has been done! Now lets not play the odds with any possible deaths.
It has been done! Now lets not play the odds with any possible deaths.
2
To all the contrarians: please just be quiet.
157
What a shame. Far better for them to have failed. A climb such as this is an irrational, self-imposed challenge, one without purpose or good sense, one that puts participants at grave risk of their lives -- for nothing of human value. The glamour of the event, greatly magnified by the Times' coverage, will, sadly, lead to more of the same under even more demanding conditions, and ultimately to tragic accidents.
13
Really? And who among us get to judge what is "of human value"? Should we then ban all sports, or any activity that presents the risk of injury?
It seems to me, by looking at the the faces of the people involved, and by the overwhelmingly positive response here, that this feat offers plenty of human value.
It seems to me, by looking at the the faces of the people involved, and by the overwhelmingly positive response here, that this feat offers plenty of human value.
25
you've made a case for screening climbers who follow in their footsteps but not for eliminating the opportunity.
1
Blah Blah Blah. I get so tired of people with literally no understanding of the risks, challenges, and difficulty of climbing making sweeping egotistical judgements of these two amazing athletes. As an avid climber who has climbed in Yosemite for years, please take your kill joy comments somewhere else. Yes, climbing is dangerous. So is driving to work. In Yosemite, there are many many more deaths from inexperienced tourists getting too close to danger every year than from climbers.
These men were, all things considered, quite safe for the entire climb. Climbing safety systems are meant to be redundant and strong so you do not risk your life on one single component of the safety chain. These men were never "at grave risk of their lives". Safety and the ability to correctly and consistently create safe anchors and place adequate protection in any climbing environment is the first thing every climber must learn. Almost all of the gear these guys were using and placing, from bolts to camming devices, are designed to hold anywhere from 2000-5000 lbs of force. Certainly there are always risks to be had on a 3000 ft piece of rock you can't control, such as rock fall and weather, but that should not deter people from climbing. The joy and beauty that are found on the walls of Yosemite are as much as national treasure as the park itself. Anyone can learn the skills, with mentor ship and perseverance, to experience this joy. Great job guys!
These men were, all things considered, quite safe for the entire climb. Climbing safety systems are meant to be redundant and strong so you do not risk your life on one single component of the safety chain. These men were never "at grave risk of their lives". Safety and the ability to correctly and consistently create safe anchors and place adequate protection in any climbing environment is the first thing every climber must learn. Almost all of the gear these guys were using and placing, from bolts to camming devices, are designed to hold anywhere from 2000-5000 lbs of force. Certainly there are always risks to be had on a 3000 ft piece of rock you can't control, such as rock fall and weather, but that should not deter people from climbing. The joy and beauty that are found on the walls of Yosemite are as much as national treasure as the park itself. Anyone can learn the skills, with mentor ship and perseverance, to experience this joy. Great job guys!
31
These men are inspiration to climbers everywhere. My congratulations to Kevin and Tommy. Climb on!
18
Really? Alex Honnold would sprint up that little hill ropeless in a quater the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCAy1v1fnI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCAy1v1fnI
3
No, he wouldn't. He's been up there on ropes and most definitely did not sprint up it.
9
But... he didn't.
6
That's funny. Here's at least one guy that disagrees...
http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/races-sports/alex-honnold-on-the-da...
http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/races-sports/alex-honnold-on-the-da...
3
The successful completion of the Dawn Wall project brings me such great joy. For me, climbing is not just about the physical and technical aspects of strength and skill, but so much about the bond formed between parters. The dedication Caldwell and Jorgeson have demonstrated to achieve this accomplishment over the last few years is remarkable. The hug they shared at the end is heartwarming, and I can only imagine the sheer joy they are experiencing right now. It's been a pleasure to be witness to this event, even if a few thousand miles away on the east coast.
63
Congratulations, guys!
7
Watched this for five hours today. The most awesome event I've witnessed since the moon landing.
Extraordinary gentleman. Bravo!
Extraordinary gentleman. Bravo!
18
What an incredible human effort and accomplishment! Bravo to Jorgeson and Caldwell. Thank you, gentlemen, for gifting us with the demonstration of the positive and good humans can achieve, especially during the early days of a new year.
14
Simply amazing...
9
Absolutely magnificent, human endurance, strength and courage at it's finest. Thank you for allowing us to witness it all.
15
Unbelievable and inspiring. Congrats to both of them!
8
An unbelievable feat of steel nerves, strong will, and unrelenting determination. Caldwell and Jorgeson have earned a most respectable place in the history of mountaineering. Awesome!
20
Wow!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
9
Free climb? When you free climb, there's no such thing as an "occasional fall."
7
Making such an assertion requires that one knows one's facts. This term was explained in a previous article, but in case you missed it, here's a relevant section from Wikipedia.
"Free climbing is a specific rock climbing term that was created in contrast with aid climbing. It refers to climbs in which climbing protection such as ropes, tri-cams, nuts, and other aid-climbing equipment, may be used to protect against injury during falls, but cannot be used in ascending the climb. The term free climbing originally meant 'free from aid'".
"While clear in its contrast to aid climbing, the term free climbing is nonetheless prone to misunderstanding and misuse.
"The two most common errors are:
"Confusing free climbing with its subset free soloing, a willfully risk-taking endeavor involving climbing with just one's hands, feet, and body without any rope or protective equipment
"Conflating soloing a free climb with free soloing, "soloing" alone meaning merely to climb with no partner, which depending on the difficulty of the route can be done safely using any of a number of self-belaying systems."
"Free climbing is a specific rock climbing term that was created in contrast with aid climbing. It refers to climbs in which climbing protection such as ropes, tri-cams, nuts, and other aid-climbing equipment, may be used to protect against injury during falls, but cannot be used in ascending the climb. The term free climbing originally meant 'free from aid'".
"While clear in its contrast to aid climbing, the term free climbing is nonetheless prone to misunderstanding and misuse.
"The two most common errors are:
"Confusing free climbing with its subset free soloing, a willfully risk-taking endeavor involving climbing with just one's hands, feet, and body without any rope or protective equipment
"Conflating soloing a free climb with free soloing, "soloing" alone meaning merely to climb with no partner, which depending on the difficulty of the route can be done safely using any of a number of self-belaying systems."
24
Bravo young men! I've been following them on Facebook.
I lived in Utah for 20 years. There are only two reasons to live in the Beehive State.
One is being a Mormon.
Two--for outdoor adventure! Five National Parks, Monuments, natural reserves. And climbing...technical climbing with carabiners, pitons, ropes, hammers...and free climbing or bouldering.
This is crazy, beyond anything possible climbing! They not only held onto the vertical slopes of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park with fingertips and toes for NINETEEN DAYS, they also climbed! We used to dream and plan a technical climb on this face--Half Dome. It used to take two days...now done in a day by the top technical climbers. (Problem with two days--it required hammering pitons into the side of the face into minuscule cracks, then hanging a hammock...and sleeping. I couldn't even wrap that around my brain. Sleeping?? What if I turn over at night??? Oh..Guarans! Hammock is guaranteed not to flip! Sure.)
I had one friend who would have been one of these incredible athletes. Wherever we went--always by walking and bicycles--Tim would climb everything--backstops at baseball fields, walls, outside every brick or granite building on the University of Utah campus. His fingers although already massively calloused would be bleeding by the end of each day. Those callouses and that crazy lop-sided smile on Tim's face.
Superb story...Incredible achievement! They reached up and touched the face of God!
I lived in Utah for 20 years. There are only two reasons to live in the Beehive State.
One is being a Mormon.
Two--for outdoor adventure! Five National Parks, Monuments, natural reserves. And climbing...technical climbing with carabiners, pitons, ropes, hammers...and free climbing or bouldering.
This is crazy, beyond anything possible climbing! They not only held onto the vertical slopes of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park with fingertips and toes for NINETEEN DAYS, they also climbed! We used to dream and plan a technical climb on this face--Half Dome. It used to take two days...now done in a day by the top technical climbers. (Problem with two days--it required hammering pitons into the side of the face into minuscule cracks, then hanging a hammock...and sleeping. I couldn't even wrap that around my brain. Sleeping?? What if I turn over at night??? Oh..Guarans! Hammock is guaranteed not to flip! Sure.)
I had one friend who would have been one of these incredible athletes. Wherever we went--always by walking and bicycles--Tim would climb everything--backstops at baseball fields, walls, outside every brick or granite building on the University of Utah campus. His fingers although already massively calloused would be bleeding by the end of each day. Those callouses and that crazy lop-sided smile on Tim's face.
Superb story...Incredible achievement! They reached up and touched the face of God!
15
Do yourself a favor and read all the previous Times articles about this climb and the climbers. And any other reporting you can find.
Most inspiring, soul boosting thing I've experienced in some time.
Marvelous!
Congratulations and thank you guys for your amazing example of grit and courage.
Most inspiring, soul boosting thing I've experienced in some time.
Marvelous!
Congratulations and thank you guys for your amazing example of grit and courage.
111
Paul, I concur! Makes me want to resurrect some dreams.
1
It was great to follow this story. John Branch is fantastic -- and the climbers, magnificent!
10
What a great series and amazing accomplishment! I've been following this since NYT began covering it. Thanks for the prominent stories. Can't wait to see the videos they've been shooting
11
While I cannot comprehend the dedication, skill, and stamina needed, I also find it hard to understand how this could be worth seven years out of my life. Adding a level of difficulty to an achievement that had already been completed. So what is next, solo, a faster time?
3
Perhaps Alex Honnold will do it in his style - no ropes at all.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2558407/Who-needs-ropes-Fearless...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2558407/Who-needs-ropes-Fearless...
What achievement had already been completed? Aid climbing the Dawn Wall is not the same as what these men did, so to say is was just adding a level of difficulty indicates misunderstanding.
Honnold has already said this is harder than any climbing he has done (paraphrase) he and Caldwell know each other well and based on the various comments from Honnold I don't think you will see him free soloing The Dawn Wall any time soon, if ever. (BTW, Honnold is a great climber in a class of his own when it comes to free solo climbs. Great to see the range of skill sets in a relatively small sport like rock climbing.)
Televised sports at it its best. Well done, gentlemen.
2
Thrilling.
As is the NYtimes coverage. Newspaper/newspaper. Loved the one on the sailing race too.
As is the NYtimes coverage. Newspaper/newspaper. Loved the one on the sailing race too.
8
Congratulations men! The best news in the paper for weeks! Lifting my spirits in Santa Cruz.
12
Amazing! What an accomplishment! and definitely impressed with Tommy's bagel sandwich, too. http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/01/06/sports/SANDWICH/SANDWICH-blog4...
5
Somehow a simple congratulations seems woefully inadequate for the feat now achieved by Caldwell and Jorgeson.
This piece posed the question about what the climbers had accomplished given the previous history of the climbs at El Capitan.
To me this was about keeping their dream alive after years of planning and grueling physical challenges on this formidable wall.
"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”
This piece posed the question about what the climbers had accomplished given the previous history of the climbs at El Capitan.
To me this was about keeping their dream alive after years of planning and grueling physical challenges on this formidable wall.
"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”
173
Jorgensen’s and Caldwell's rock climb of the Dawn Wall on smooth solid granite is an impressive media event with logistical support providing unlimited water, food, and fuel.
Their ascent pales compared to Joe Simpson's and Simon Yates' alpine style ascent and descent of Siula Grande in the Andes without logistical support or practice climbs with Simpson falling, breaking a leg and completing the climb solo. The west face of Siula Grande has been climbed a couple of times since their first ascent.
With frozen, frost bitten fingers, they climbed walls of ice and rock under continual threat of ice and rock falls, avalanches, hidden crevasses and falling cornices. They climbed on unstable snow, ice, rock, frequently in extreme weather conditions and in oxygen deprivation at the higher elevations.
Most climbing accidents occur on the descent. How will Jorgeson and Caldwell fare? Their descent will probably be on the trail next to Yosemite Falls, one a cub scout could descend.
The only elements of Simpson's and Yates’ climb that pales compared to this Dawn Wall event is the media coverage and logistical support.
Without their unlimited logistical support Jorgeson and Caldwell would have quit this climb a week ago.
To find the real spirit of climbing read Touching The Void.
Idaho Collins
Their ascent pales compared to Joe Simpson's and Simon Yates' alpine style ascent and descent of Siula Grande in the Andes without logistical support or practice climbs with Simpson falling, breaking a leg and completing the climb solo. The west face of Siula Grande has been climbed a couple of times since their first ascent.
With frozen, frost bitten fingers, they climbed walls of ice and rock under continual threat of ice and rock falls, avalanches, hidden crevasses and falling cornices. They climbed on unstable snow, ice, rock, frequently in extreme weather conditions and in oxygen deprivation at the higher elevations.
Most climbing accidents occur on the descent. How will Jorgeson and Caldwell fare? Their descent will probably be on the trail next to Yosemite Falls, one a cub scout could descend.
The only elements of Simpson's and Yates’ climb that pales compared to this Dawn Wall event is the media coverage and logistical support.
Without their unlimited logistical support Jorgeson and Caldwell would have quit this climb a week ago.
To find the real spirit of climbing read Touching The Void.
Idaho Collins
Thrilling and inspiring. Congrats to Tommy and Kevin...and thank you for reminding us (again) that amazing things are possible!
34
Absolutely incredible and a feat that won't be repeated for a very, very long time. Nice work Tommy and Kevin!
40
Congratulations to Jorgeson and Caldwell. You are an inspiration.
32
Kudos to Jorgenson and Caldwell. It's a spectacular climb.
22
Amazing. Inspiring. Bravo!
26
Wow, congrats. Thank you NY Times for following these two climbers and allowing us to do the same.
87
Congratulations to them both!
12
Congratulations for accomplishing such a goal...
11
Awesome! Congratulations!
15
Hearty congratulations to Caldwell and Jorgeson! Well done, sirs!
9
Amazing coverage...thanks NYTimes, and thanks for the link to NBC live coverage...Thrilling! Congratulations to the lads...what an amazing achievement!
90
We need more stories like this! What a wonderful accomplishment for these men! Congratulations to both!
72
They did it! Congratulations to these athletes in their quest to free climb Yosemite's Dawn Wall. So very excited and proud that Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson (he's from our home town in Santa Rosa) accomplished their dream.
46
Congrats, boys. Well done.
15
Phenomenal achievement. Bravo to Tommy and Kevin for this psychological, physical and graceful, tour de force!
58
Congratulations to Caldwell and Jorgeson! It was great to watch them realize their dream. I had to wonder, as I watched them reach the top, how, after their celebrations with loved ones and friends, they now get back down to the valley floor. Do they camp on top of El Cap tonight and hike down tomorrow? Do they rappel back down? Does a helicopter pick them up?
30
Ed Viesturs mountain climber said,
Getting to the top [of Mt. Everst] is optional. Getting down is mandatory.
Life is getting up spiritually—and climbing even higher.
There is no top.
4
They hike off the back. Rappelling would be awful, but is the way down plenty of long routes on towers that don't have a hiking descent.
3
I think the answer is in the last paragraph. I'm guessing they took the quick route back down.
Good for them. Few of us get to be the best at something. Enjoy it guys. The moment won't last but you'll have it forever.
32
Congratulations to both climbers. And to their families who provided such emotional support for the effort
40