December 25



Climbers view El Capitan's aptly named Nose -- the southwest butress -- with equal parts adrenalin and awe. Before 1957, many thought it couldn't be climbed. But then wild man Warren Harding and several others laid siege to the rock face. They climbed on the rock when they could; when they couldn't, they drilled expansion bolts into the rock, clipped webbing ladders onto those bolts, and stood on the ladders. After 48 days of prepatory work spread over 18 months, they finally climbed the Nose in November 1958.

The event started a debate among climbers: Is the use of artificial aid "cheating"? If so, the Nose would have to be climbed free, using only the rock for support. Again, many thought it couldn't be done.

In 1993, champion sport climber Lynn Hill became the first person to do it, making a 4-day free ascent. She returned in 1994 to become the first person to free-climb the Nose in a day.
posted by Peggy or Guy at 9:33 PM