YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) – When climber Kevin Jorgeson was stalled for days about halfway up the 3,000-foot Dawn Wall of El Capitan, he suggested that his partner Tommy Caldwell go on without him to finish an historic free-climb of the world famous granite monolith.
But Caldwell recalled, “The idea of topping out without Kevin wasn’t something I thought about. Everything is best when it’s shared.”
In tackling what had been considered the world’s most difficult rock climb, the two shared their experience on the sheer granite wall – bloodied fingertips, bruising falls and, at the end of the day, a few comforts sent up from Yosemite Valley below: coffee, Indian food, chocolate and an occasional nip of whiskey.
The effort took 19 days, but on Wednesday Caldwell and Jorgeson became the first to free-climb the Dawn Wall. Unlike climbers who need more elaborate equipment, the pair relied entirely on their hands and feet and physical strength, using ropes and harnesses only for safety in case of a fall.
Speaking Thursday to reporters, both men said they had been touched by the number of people who drew inspiration from their journey up a half-mile of pale, smooth stone.