Thread: 2 men reach top of Yosemite’s El Capitan in historic free climb

2 men reach top of Yosemite’s El Capitan in historic climb - The Washington Post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANAk7UC6rg

Incredible stuff. I can't even fathom the mental fortitude let alone the physical fortitude to do this. If anyone has ever done any rock climbing they will know it forces you to concentrate on what's a few inches from your face. Concentrating on finding the tiniest holds. On your balance. A few weeks ago I climbed a silly little rock face here in the Adelaide hills without any ropes at all (free solo). While it wasn't high, if I'd have fallen I'd be dead. It was the most intense moments of my life. Talk about 'living in the moment'. It was probably silly, but I needed to climb free solo just once.

These really incredible climbs these guys do are simply amazing.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

A few weeks ago I climbed a silly little rock face here in the Adelaide hills without any ropes at all (free solo). While it wasn't high, if I'd have fallen I'd be dead. It was the most intense moments of my life. Talk about 'living in the moment'. It was probably silly, but I needed to climb free solo just once.

These really incredible climbs these guys do are simply amazing.

In maybe 1972 I was driving up to California and IIRC on route 66 I pulled over and climbed some cliff face in Arizona or maybe New Mexico. Same thing, I had ambitions to be a climber, had read about Hermann Buhl, Emilio Comici, as well as Royal Robbins and Warren Page.

I went up the face of it a pretty good ways and then I realized I had to go back down, and that was the scary part. I don't know if I would have been dead, but I would have been busted up for sure. Fortunately for me, I made it back down. Getting into structural steel work for 20 years satisfied my hunger for thrills and chills up in the air, so I never did get into climbing.

Thread got my juices flowing,after my Nap will go locate my peetons and ropes and go climb a rock in my backyard

What we call a 'sit start' for sure in bouldering...

A great feat sure but I personally think its stupid.
To risk one's own life to climb a rock? Sorry but I see nothing impressive about that.

When I was young & had no family, I did several things that were totally foolish & stupid.
,,,but God,, what a rush I got.

Originally Posted by ProudMarineDad

A great feat sure but I personally think its stupid.
To risk one's own life to climb a rock? Sorry but I see nothing impressive about that.

Some people are wired to want to push the envelope. The same thing that would make a man want to do this to earn a living ........... or to join the Marine Corps. IMHO

I would have climbed that steel Jimmy, but my balls weren't big enough,,,,

Originally Posted by ProudMarineDad

A great feat sure but I personally think its stupid.
To risk one's own life to climb a rock? Sorry but I see nothing impressive about that.

You don't get it. But I think maybe you do get it. It's not about climbing the rock. It's not about conquering the rock. It's about conquering something else. You're a Marine? So you've done risky things. What was that all for? Country? The Flag? Family? Mates? Freedom? The uniform? Or, maybe, some of it was about you. You did it for you.