YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) – It was magical moment years in the making: American rock climber Tommy Caldwell pulled himself atop the majestic 3,000-foot wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, joined minutes later on a narrow ledge by his climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson.
Knowing they had free-climbed the world’s biggest granite monolith, the two longtime friends embraced, and then Jorgeson pumped his arm in the air and clapped his hands above his head. Year after year of practice, failed attempts and the last 19 grueling days scaling by their fingertips and feet rewarded them at last with success.
“That’s a deep, abiding, lifelong friendship, built over suffering on the wall together over six years,” said Caldwell’s mother, Terry, among some 200 people who broke into cheers from the Yosemite Valley floor thousands of feet below.
The mother said her son could have reached the top several days ago, but he waited for his friend to make sure they made it together.
The pair on Wednesday completed what had long been considered the world’s most difficult rock climb, captivating the nation and world through social media and livestreamed video coverage while documentary filmmakers dangled from ropes capturing each move.