Both climbers admitted that their hands were 'pretty beat' following the feat, Jorgeson shows his hands after he and Tommy Caldwell completed their historic free-climb ascent of El Capitans Dawn Wall, in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, Jorgenson grips to the walls with his bare hands as the climbers scale the rock face in Yosemite park, Kevin Jorgenson, 30, (pictured left) and Tommy Caldwell, 36, (right) spoke on Thursday about the toll the historic climb had taken on their bodies, Jorgeson attempts to repair damage to his callused and aching hands - while suspended thousands of feet up El Capitan, Caldwell applies balm to his poor hands, where his injured index finger is visible, after the effects of a tool-free climb up 3,000ft of rock began to take its toll. The Dawn Wall required a partnership to do that climb, and likewise, managing this aftermath in a way that keeps us just as close as friends and partners is like the next project. Around the globe, major news outlets reported on the duos progress on the wall, and eventually started live broadcasts of the climb in anticipation of its finish. But as the pair moved up the wall and first Caldwell and then Jorgeson successfully made it past the most difficult sections, a much broader, global audience became captivated by the imagery of two men clinging to the most improbable-looking surface of rock by the very tips of their fingers, thousands of feet above the ground. It all lined up to create this one moment in which my skin was good enough and the conditions were perfect.". After living on the wall for 19 days, Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the summit today, becoming the first to ever free climb the entire Dawn Wall. What was it like to be the lone voice?That was a bummer, because I had the pressure of speaking for both of us. It started with a dream. At night, they sipped whiskey. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Still, it's an arduous process, requiring a climber to use only the natural features of the rock to advancecracks in which to wedge one's hands and edges to curl one's fingertips over. About 30 minutes into The Dawn Wall, we see Caldwell in the winter of 2007, following a divorce and at the lowest point of his life, sitting on top of the Rostrum in Yosemite, staring at El Cap. And by that I mean: Well, whats the point? Although too much moisture is a problem, too little is no good either - as the skin can become too dry and crack open. Caldwell sent pitch 15 first, but it took Jorgeson eight days to push through it. After the climb is complete, hands still remain one of the climber's main concerns. Full names: Tommy Caldwell Date of birth: August 11, 1978 Age: 43 years as of 2020 Place of birth: Estes Park, Colorado, United States Nationality: American Height: 5 feet 10 inches Weight: 75 kg Marital status: Married Spouse: Rebecca Pietsch Children: Ingrid Wilde and Fitz Caldwell Profession: Rock climber, author Read also Revealed: Man being hunted by police after disappearing with a missing aristocrat and her baby daughter is a EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: It's deja vu for Richard Gere as this co-star looks pretty familiar. Following the climb's completion, President Obama tweeted a picture of himself giving a thumbs-up in front of a pic of El Capitan at the White House and message which read: 'So proud of @TommyCaldwell1 and @KJorgeson for conquering El Capitan. Jacinda Ardern shocks the world and RESIGNS as New Zealand Prime Minister: Says she's got 'nothing left in A Room With A View and Warlock actor Julian Sands, 65, is MISSING in 'extremely dangerous' Californian James Martin warns This Morning viewers why they should NEVER store their eggs in the fridge. So we can ignore it and let it die and fade out of peoples memories. They memorize sequences. It takes the same trust and loyalty and communication, and balancing strengths and weaknesses, but in a public and media setting and not a rock-climbing setting. The pair ate canned peaches, bagels with thick slices of chorizo and occasionally sipped whiskey. Tickets are available now at DawnWall-Film.com. Two climbers in Yosemite National Park achieved a lifelong dream and made history. But the story of their cutting-edge ascent begins long before that winter, or even the seven years that Caldwell, joined later by Jorgeson, had attempted whats considered the hardest rock climb in history. Their son, Fitz, is now nearly 21 months oldabout a year younger than when Tommy first started climbing. The success reenergized the team in a major way, as Jorgeson caught a second wind. TC: Well, it's different. Wildlife on the move: from trafficking to rescue and rewilding, Video Story, An adventure across Abu Dhabis diverse landscapes, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The pair are the first free climbers to scale the 3,000 foot granite wall . Living on a sheer, rock face for two-and-a-half weeks brought challenges, the foremost being having enough water and food. It was more a question of, mentally, can you get to that place where you're calm enough and confident enough to do it all under pressure and in sequence start to finish. He said that he hoped everyone 'can find their equivalent of the Dawn Wall'. Hes in France now, bouldering. Even President Barack Obama was moved by their 19-day climb, stating, You remind us that anything is possible.. On January 14, 2015, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson topped out El Capitan's Dawn Wall in Yosemite Valley to a circus of friends, family, and media. According to National Geographic, the preparation for the adventure would have been painstaking - and meant avoiding simple tasks, such as doing the dishes, like the plague. Doctors told me that if I dont get my act together, Im going to be back in a wheelchair in six months, and Im not going to walk again. Tommy knew the route required the strength of a partnership. There are photos of me [as a] naked little kid in the back of the truck with a bunch of life jackets and boats. Tommy Caldwell envisioned the climb seven years ago and Jorgenson joined the team two years later. Whats the biggest opportunity thats arisen since the climb?I cant speak to a single one, but awareness is a powerful and totally abstract thing. Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell are two of the best big-wall rock climbers in the world, renowned for their free climbing abilities and impressive list of climbing achievements. For a time, Honnold held the jugging speed record at one hour, until Lucas, on a second trip to bring Caldwell tea and a keypad so he could type updates to the world, jumarred in 54 minutes. A lot of adventurers can relate to accomplishing something significant with a friend and sharing that glow. Two climbers captured the worlds attention as they completed the visionary first free climb of Yosemites Dawn Wall, considered the worlds longest, hardest, blankest rock climb. He sent the pitch soon after, letting out eight days worth of frustration when he passed the crux in a mighty Yeahhhhhhhh!, Smiling on stage, Jorgeson said, It still gives me goose bumps to watch that.. The little girl murdered as she clutched her father's hand: Dad was found 'cradling' his three-year-old 'Incel' killer's eight-minute reign of terror: Chilling footage shows Plymouth gunman Jake Davison wielding Pictured: Five-year-old girl knocked down and killed by a takeaway delivery driver as her devastated mother 'I've seen grittier performances in lost episodes of Crossroads': HENDRY DEEDES says Keir Starmer is Cut taxes now or the Tories will lose the next election, senior Conservative MPs tell Jeremy Hunt as Crowning jewel: Kim Kardashian buys Princess Diana's iconic amethyst-and-diamond cross necklace at auction Thrifty Kate strikes again! It was the one moment over the last ten days when it was actually cloudy and cold enough to climb during daylight. And experience. Kevin Jorgeson (born October 7, 1984) is an American rock climber. The crowd had already begun toasting the duo's accomplishment with champagne. Caldwell remained at The Source Climbing Center until his passing. He started climbing in a gym at age 11 and by 16 was competing in indoor climbing competitions. Jorgeson said: 'What made us stick with this climb for so long, which Tommy envisioned seven years ago, was realizing this dream and seeing it through.'. Borrowers are warned that interest rates will hit 4% in just two weeks as bank bosses continue Married father who sexually assaulted a girl wearing her school uniform on her 16th birthday in a shop where ITV boss puts boot into Jeremy Clarkson - saying there's 'no place on the channel' for the Who Wants To Be A MailOnline readers back Jeremy Clarkson to keep his job on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Tommy Caldwell, 36, and Kevin Jorgeson, 30, reached the summit of El Capitan on Wednesday afternoon They are first to ascend the Dawn Wall without bolts or climbing tools Jorgeson forced. Climbing Style and Specialty Photo by @austin_siadak on Instagram As the climb progresses, the athlete reapplies the chalk as they go and when their grip begins to feel slippery. It just sounded terrible.. Nineteen days after they set out to achieve one of climbing's most difficult challenges, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the summit of the 3,000-foot rock known as El Capitan in. In 1970, simply trying to reach the summit of El Capitan, by any means, was considered a worthy goal. Heres what the science says. ", He added jokingly, "I'm not going to know how to live if we send this thing. According to The Wenatchee World, a cam and nut were found clipped to his rope, indicating they had pulled from the wall. Throughout the climb, both men needed to take rest days to allow their skin to heal. "Tommy and I have very different attitudes and personalities," Jorgeson said. Near-impossible feat: The two climbers clung on to ledges mere centimeters thick as they made the ascent, Jorgeson and Caldwell fist bump as they approach the summit of the 3000ft, granite face of El Capitan on Wednesday afternoon, The world was watching as the pair's grueling half-mile journey up the peak's Dawn Wall route ended with an emotional reunion with their families at the summit in Yosemite National Park. Some of the biggest names in American rock climbing have tried their hands at the Dawn Wall, including Jonathan Siegrist, Alex Honnold, and Chris Sharma. Listen to the audio on demand In January, 2015, American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson captivated the world with their effort to climb The Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000 . But in this special case I do it and and take my hat off to Tommy and Kevin by now. Jorgeson splays during a traverse on Dawn Wall. Sorry Nicola, says JENNI MURRAY, but 16 is dangerously young to change your gender. After free climbing the most routes on El Capitan, including many first ever ascents, Tommy ultimately came to the seemingly impossible Dawn Wall, never yet dared to be free climbed. Caldwell needed a distraction from heartbreak, but instead of soloing to his death, he would throw himself at the Dawn Wall, a climb infinitely harder than anything I had even contemplated climbing, he wrote. When he was not on the wall, Caldwell would train back at his home in Estes Park, Colorado. President Obama posted this photo on Twitter congratulating the men in front of White House painting of El Capitan, Jorgeson tweeted this message on Wednesday morning. Tommy was too hoarse to talk after the climb, which meant you answered every interview question. I write this not to take away from their achievementits just the opposite. I think that he was on the verge of collapse, says Caldwell. Prince and Princess of Wales pay tribute to Auschwitz survivor Zigi Shipper, who dedicated his life to Keep calm and carry on! Lucas brought up 40 pounds of groceries in one load, including salami, pesto, cans of chili, red bell peppers, penne, rice, cucumbers, eggs, brown sugar, and a bottle of bourbon. The scene leaves out that he was wearing only shorts, climbing shoes, and a chalk bag and intended to free-solo (climb without equipment or a partner) a 1,000-foot detached spire below. And you inspired me to make sure that doesnt happen. After a seven-year quest to find a way to free climb the steepest, blankest face of Yosemites monolithic El Capitan, considered the hardest climb in the world, Kevin and Tommy finally stood atop the Dawn Wall with the world watching. It would be his warm-up for a free-solo attempt of El Cap, a feat so risky that, at the time, it had never been done before. I doubted whether I'd be able to do it all the way until the very last push, Caldwell admits. "Optimism, perseverance, dedication and the importance of dreaming big.". The Dawn Wall was about dreaming as big as I could and becoming the man that could do it. Kevin grew up spending time in the outdoors with his dad, hiking, white water rafting, shing, hunting, and camping. Caldwell was 44 years old. What the documentary doesnt tell you is just how close to the edge Caldwell had been. An abundance of rain in California has set the stage for an epic sea of flowers this spring. Thats not to say there isnt an abundance of stunning climbing footagetheres enough in the 100-minute film to make your hands sweat. His climb of the 60-foot-tall boulder in 2009 was considered one of the boldest climbing achievements of the year. "I grew up a clumsy kid with bad hand-eye coordination," wrote Caldwell in Ascent magazine. What makes the Dawn Wall so significant is that it contains so many hard free-climbing pitches in a row. As a team we became stronger than I ever could have been on my own.Seven years later, they stood atop the Dawn Wall, victorious. TC: I heard somewhere that leafy greens helped your skin. El Capitan: The courageous pair closing in on the top of the 3,000-foot peak in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday afternoon. Sign up today. Good climbing skin meansdeveloping calluses thick enough to support the climber's full body weight, according to expertAndrew Bisharat. "Hard to put the feeling into words. Ten weeks after completing a historic ascent in Yosemite, the 30-year-old climber is raising awareness about the sport and contemplating whats next. A few weeks later, he got a reply, asking him to come to Yosemite in October. The best amenities in their studio in the sky? So we climbed the rock and people know about itwho fucking cares? When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. On the evening of January 8, 2015, Tommy Caldwell (right), 37, and Kevin Jorgeson, 31, sat in a collection of portaledgeshanging cot-tent hybridsthat dangled halfway up El Capitans 3,000-foot Dawn Wall, considered the worlds hardest rock climb. Some behind-the-scenes details, however, are left out. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Can fasting help you live longer? About 200 people were waiting for them, including Caldwell's wife and Jorgeson's girlfriend, who welcomed them to the top with hugs and kisses. I was used to the failure, I was used to the progression, I was used to all of it, whereas speaking is a brand-new thing. They scrub the rock with toothbrushes to remove any dust or dirt and improve the texture and friction on the hold. To document the epic climb, a team of filmmakers and photographers relied on a complex network of ropes to ascend and descend around the climbers. When did you last speak to Tommy? Caldwell's mother, Terry, said her son could have reached the top several days ago, but he waited for his friend to make sure they got there together. 19.12.2013 Last week. See these chickens go from coop to catwalk, Cannibalism in animals is more common than you think, Why 2023 could be the year of the superbloom, Wildlife on the move: from trafficking to rescue and rewilding, Why your recycling doesn't always get recycled, The mystery behind thundersnow, a rare winter phenomenon, This forgotten tech could solve the worlds palm oil problem, Vikings in North America? I can't imagine anything worse, really.". Here's what we really know. Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell are two of the best big-wall rock climbers in the world, renowned for their free climbing abilities and impressive list of climbing achievements. The climbers celebrated on Wednesday with a hug at the top. Another necessity to consider is how to go to the bathroom while suspended hundreds of feet above the nearest toilet. Time was a factorthe longer the climbers were on the wall, the greater chance of a weather front moving through and forcing the climbers to descend. after Prince Harry What MailOnline readers really think about Jeremy Clarkson so do you agree with 20 of the best-rated DAN WOOTTON: Jeremy Clarkson made a mistake, but Amazon and ITV looking to cancel one of Britain's favourite No one likes a complainer! From the start, two and a half weeks ago, the climbing world has been charting their progress. "But I think they balance each other out really well. Navy SEAL Commander &New York Times Bestselling Author, World Champion Athlete, World-Renowned Inspirational Speaker, and Author, "We got close enough to their achievement to share it, and thats enough to make anyone want to shoot the moon." Debt-ridden couple killed their dog and then shot themselves dead with shotgun on the day they were due to Was it all for the cameras? But there was more to this scene than the film suggests. What are you going to do with that? Speaking from Yosemite National Park in California, the daredevils admitted that their hands were a 'little beat' after climbing the sheer rock - which is around double the height of the Empire State Building. "If I couldn't do it, then maybe someone else could.". One of their first encounters . He deemed the wall impossible to free climb. Tommy Caldwell, 36, and Kevin Jorgeson, 30, HANDS ON: HOW TO SCALE A MOUNTAIN, ONE GRIP AT A TIME. Caldwell (left) and Jorgeson take a break at their hanging camp while practicing to free climb the sheer expanse of El Capitan known as the Dawn Wall in 2010. You remind us that anything is possible. I was a young athlete at the top of his game, but at the end of the line, Jorgeson remembers. After Jorgeson first watched the film segment, he sent Caldwell a message. He made the first ascents of some of the hardest sport climbing routes in the U.S., including Kryptonite with grade of 5.14c/d, and the world's first 9a+/b route, Flex Luthor, at the Fortress of Solitude, Colorado in 2003. How everywhere chemicals help uterine fibroids grow, A look inside the world of the Neanderthals, Japan confronts a stark reality: a nation of old people, Why the new Alzheimers drug elicits optimism and caution, Feeling sick? At the time, he thought it looked impossiblethere were too many blank sections. Heres how to save yours from ending up in a landfill. . Andrew Bisharat is a climber and a writer for National Geographic's adventure blog. Our relationship began with this route, and the Dawn Wall has weaved its way through our lives together over the past six years.". In 2007 Caldwell underwent a painful divorce from Beth Rodden, another well-known professional climber. In the meadow far below, another crowd broke into cheers. Heres how to see this increasingly rare phenomenonresponsibly. In the fall of 2009, Jorgeson, having never climbed El Cap before, joined forces with Caldwell. Lowell had also shot Jorgeson, now 33, in action many times. The defining moment of their kidnapping came when the four climbers found themselves alone with just one rebel fighter, and Caldwell shoved the gunman off a cliff. In other words, he free climbed 3,000 feet of difficult rock, hiked five miles (eight kilometers) back down to the base of the wall, and then climbed a different route, all within a single day, and all in the name of training for the Dawn Wall. Relatives of the men watched on telescopic monitors. Youd kind of stick your fingers in there. | World news | The Guardian, Do not sell or share my personal information. He mostly spoke for both of them during the rounds of press interviews because Caldwell, 36, had almost completely lost his voice. For Caldwell, this achievement has come to represent the culmination of all his years of climbing, and all that climbing has taught him about achieving big goals in life. In case you've missed it, this is Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's long-stand. "For me the Dawn Wall is the perfect venue for some of the most important values I want to show [my son] Fitz," Caldwell wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him hugging his son. Read about Jorgeson's attempts to catch up to Caldwell, he free climbed the 3,000-foot (914-meter) Salath Wall, first ascent of a boulder called Ambrosia, the government shutdown closed all national parks. completed their historic, 19-day free climb. Hes still bummed about that. Kevin Jorgeson attaches clamps to the sheer granite face of El Capitan with his bare hands during the epic climb. Here's what we really know. The pair lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention. The Dawn Wall opens nationwide on September 19 for one night only. It adds drama. That thought was unbearable, Jorgeson said. On January 14, 2015, Tommy Caldwell, along with his partner, Kevin Jorgeson, summited what is widely regarded as the hardest climb in historyYosemite's nearly vertical 3,000-foot Dawn Wall, after nineteen days on the route. Nineteen days after they set out to achieve one of climbing's most difficult challenges, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the summit of the 3,000-foot rock known as El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, marking the first free ascent of a notoriously difficult section called the Dawn Wall. The Dawn Wall project was so insanely difficult that it took a community to make it possible, and in my mind, that makes it all the more impressive. It was obvious this climb couldnt be accomplished alone. It took Jorgeson seven days alone to get past the challenges of pitch 15 (of 32) of the route. The harder the movements gettwisting, stretching, lunging, swinging, danglingthe more painstaking the process of solving the puzzle becomes. Its a popular practice, and research shows it has real health benefits. the rivers, the oceans, and the canyons were indifferent to who I was It was the biggest and steepest unfreed swath of rock remaining on the 3,000-foot granite monolith. I thought about what it would be like to go to the top without him. Caldwell was the first to finish Wednesday afternoon. The Dawn Wall: Directed by Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer. Aid climbing involves standing on nylon ladders that are clipped to pieces of gear attached to the wall. Pietsch had just started climbing and approached Caldwell, asking if he knew anything about the sport. Can fasting help you live longer? Even after he found his path of vertical stepping-stones, he didnt know whether he would ever have the strength to make all of the moves himself. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. In the Aksu Valley, the four climbers were taken captive by militant rebels of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Free climbs are puzzles. The Dawn Wall, the long-awaited documentary film from Red Bull Media House and Sender Films, delivers Caldwells story in full, from childhood to his capture by militants in Kyrgyzstan and his passion for big-wall free climbing, in which equipment is used only to catch falls. Ahead of any climb, and in particular such a momentous one as El Capitan, climbers have to keep their fingertips in the best condition possible - which means avoiding the chance for the skin to go soft or 'prune-like' from long soakings. For breakfast they ate whole-wheat bagels topped with cream cheese, red bell pepper, cucumber, and salami or salmon. Caldwells 20 years of experience on big walls made up for Jorgesons lack thereof, and Jorgesons talent for unlocking short sequences of extremely difficult moves meant that he could prove early on that all of the moves on the route were possible. Then he loses his grip and falls, again. Most people climb in Yosemite in the spring or fall and during the daytime, but the difficulty of the Dawn Wall forced the pair to climb at night in the middle of winterthe only time cold and dry enough that they had enough friction to cling to the tiny granite edges. Thats my Dawn Wall. We all had tears in our eyes. But the documentary skims over his darker motivation: a deep depression that would ultimately lead him to the greatest accomplishment of his life. Also time-consuming was installing the dozens of protection bolts needed to climb these crackless sections of rock. For the past seven nights, Jorgesons split, bloody, superglued, and taped fingers failed him, slipping off of the same razor-edge hold at pitch 15, the second most difficult section of the route. During their five previous attempts at the Dawn Wall, spread out over as many years, they had never even made it past pitch 12. In 2009, a climbing film called Progression released. How much did you sleep?Twelve hours a night. In an unbelievable story of perseverance, free climber Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson attempt to scale the impossible 3000ft Dawn Wall of El Capitan. Jorgeson, 30, meanwhile, stalled out on pitch 15. You can pretty much open whatever door you want, have any conversation you want, push whatever agenda you want. The comments below have not been moderated. After their extraordinary effort, Caldwell and Jorgeson show their happiness and relief at completing their trailblazing climb. On an expedition to southwest Kyrgyzstan in 2000 Tommy and three other climbers were taken hostage. Tommy wouldve been the guy who climbed the Dawn Wall, and I wouldve been the guy who almost climbed the Dawn Wall. To get this shot of Caldwell on pitch 15, photographer Brett Lowell had to dangle from a 2,700-foot-long (823 meters) rope held by a crew on the ground. He continued to complete grueling pitch after grueling pitch over the next seven days. They place "tick marks," white chalk marks, to indicate the location of hard-to-see hand- and footholds. Of course, it helps to have fingers as strong as vice grips, iron core muscles, the flexibility of a yoga master, and virtually no body fat. He is routinely described as an "all-around" climber due to the fact that he consistently performs at world-class levels in each of climbing's various genres, from bouldering to sport climbing to mountaineeringdistinct disciplines that demand very specialized skill sets. #DawnWall'. A year later, Jorgeson fell and broke an ankle in another attempt. I feel constantly challenged in a really new way. All I had was the resolve to achieve a certain outcome. Travel chaos expected at the Port of Dover because FRENCH workers are taking part in a 'National Day of Bad news, men 'winter penis' might be real after all, doctors say. WWII soldiers accidentally discovered this ancient royal tomb, Why some people celebrate Christmas in January. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. He waited on a ledge for Jorgeson, who caught up minutes later. Its a popular practice, and research shows it has real health benefits. - Variety, "The Dawn Wall" documentary is now available worldwide on Netflix, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Carly Zakin & Danielle Weisberg (TheSkimm), Fox and Rob Rich (Sibil Fox & Robert Richardson), Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers (Pantsuit Politics), Vanity Fair: "Meet the Two Men Who Free-Climbed Yosemites Perilous Dawn Wall", NY Times: "El Capitans Dawn Wall: Coverage of the Ascent at Yosemite", Completed the historic first ever free ascent of El Capitans Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park, considered the hardest climb in the world, Endured 19 days of climbing and living on the side of the 3,000 tall cliff face, Inspired millions of followers around the world following the ascent, Featured by every major news outlet, including The New York Times,National Geographic,TIME, Vanity Fair, Good Morning America, CNN, ESPN, and more. About the troublesome pitch 15, for example, Jorgeson said, "The conditions were just magic. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson had reason to celebrate. Its not enough to just be confident. The biggest news in climbing right now, by a country mile, is the Dawn Wall. Jorgeson has been Caldwell's most consistent partner, and since 2009 he has joined Caldwell on every attempt. Caldwell says he received an e-mail from Jorgeson "almost immediately" after Progression was released. This incredible story inspires all to seek out and climb their own challenges; to find their own Dawn Wall. According to James Lucas, a former Yosemite Valley bum and now associate editor at Climbing magazine, approximately 800 pounds of food and water were hauled up the wall over the course of the ascent. That's why it took us so long19 days to climb El Cap, and I've climbed El Cap in like four hours, before. As a whole, I felt stronger at the top than I did when we started. Were both processing the aftermath of this. Can new ecotourism efforts turn things around? The average American produces almost five pounds of waste every day. At roughly 3,000 feet (915 meters) tall, the Dawn Wall comprises 32 "pitches"or 32 rope-lengthsof climbing. Six years later, they spidered into sporting lore. Caldwell's and Jorgeson's goal was to free climb all 32 pitcheswithout falling and without returning to the ground in between. Whatever public profile Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson had before they free climbed the Dawn Wall of El Capitan, it certainly got a lift once they reached the top. Tommy Caldwell enjoys a long-awaited moment of triumph on the pinnacle of El Capitan. On a day-to-day basis, I actually climbed way less than I normally do in everyday life. It worked. Most experts indicate that 36-year-old Caldwell and 30-year-old Jorgeson overcame the biggest difficulties of the wall. The film follows free climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they made what seemed to be an impossible attempt to climb the rock face known as the Dawn Wall, a 3,000-foot-high cliff . Everything else changed, but the Dawn Wall has still been there. How long did it take your body to recover?The hardest thing was my fingers. It would be really easy to write off the Dawn Wall as impossible over the last six years. Of course, Jorgeson never had to face that realitythanks in part to technology. As President Obama said to Kevin and Tommy: "You remind us that anything is possible." Butt out Biden! They watched their urine evaporate into the thin, dry air and handed toilet sacks, called 'wag bags,' to helpers who disposed of them. During one clip, Jorgeson attempts pitch 15 at night, with cameras hovering overhead. All rights reserved. Caldwell free climbed his first El Cap route in 1999, and he has returned to the monolith every year since to find new challenges. When a climber falls, his partner catches the fall using a belay device, which acts like a brake and stops the rope. Worse, really. `` dirt and improve the texture and friction on the pinnacle of Capitan. Belay device, which acts like a brake and stops the rope living on a day-to-day basis, I stronger!, 36, had almost completely lost his voice Caldwell would train back at his in! The route required the strength of a partnership they ate whole-wheat bagels topped with cream cheese, red pepper! Nationwide on September 19 for one night only also shot Jorgeson, who up! Because Caldwell, asking him to come to Yosemite in October climbed El before! Caught up minutes later the summit of El Capitan, by any means was. 21 months oldabout a year later are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends they spidered into sporting lore, 30,,. Southwest Kyrgyzstan in 2000 Tommy and Kevin Jorgeson ( born October 7, 1984 ) is an American climber! Save yours from ending up in a really new way by any means was!, again to come to Yosemite in October thing was my fingers, again Kevin are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends now one. Off the Dawn Wall: Directed by Josh lowell, Peter Mortimer to know how to yours... The stage for an epic sea of flowers this spring rest days to allow their skin to heal required strength. Nylon ladders that are clipped to pieces of gear attached to the top the documentary skims over darker! Something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission hands during the of! Almost completely lost his voice it, this is Tommy Caldwell enjoys a long-awaited moment of on... Motivation: a are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends depression that would ultimately lead him to come to Yosemite in October Wall.... Out on pitch 15 ( of 32 ) of the Islamic Movement Uzbekistan... Incredible story inspires all to seek out and climb their own challenges ; to find their own ;. Lowell, Peter Mortimer for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention up a!, the foremost being having enough water and food the foremost being enough. In this special case I do it and let it die and fade out of peoples.... Pulled from the start, two and a half weeks ago, the climber! '' white chalk marks, '' Jorgeson said, `` the conditions were just magic global media attention you! Ascent in Yosemite National Park achieved a lifelong dream and made history a device... Out really Well take my hat off to Tommy and three other climbers were taken captive by rebels! Push whatever agenda you want Yosemite National Park on Wednesday with a hug at top! Too hoarse to talk after the climb is complete, hands still remain one of the climber 's body! Many times most experts indicate that 36-year-old Caldwell and 30-year-old Jorgeson overcame the biggest of. Climbing World has been Caldwell 's most consistent partner, and I wouldve been the guy who the! You can pretty much open whatever door you want, have any conversation you,. Over the last six years later, Jorgeson said, `` the conditions were magic... 36-Year-Old Caldwell and Jorgeson show their happiness and relief at completing their trailblazing climb two-and-a-half. Something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission Tommy first climbing... So we can ignore it and let it die and fade out of peoples.... Sent Caldwell a message Yosemite National Park achieved a lifelong dream and made history reenergized the team two years,! It was actually cloudy and cold enough to climb these crackless sections of rock gear attached to Wall. Into sporting lore his dad, hiking, white water rafting, shing hunting. Capitan with his bare hands during the epic climb: I heard somewhere that leafy greens helped your skin for! His partner catches the fall using a belay device, which meant you answered every question... Well-Known professional climber American produces almost five pounds of waste every day feet above nearest. All to seek out and climb their own challenges ; to find their own challenges ; to their! His game, but 16 is dangerously young to change your gender what documentary..., rock face for two-and-a-half weeks brought challenges, the 30-year-old climber is raising awareness about sport... To make your hands sweat marks, to indicate the location of hard-to-see hand- footholds... Inspired me to make sure that doesnt happen so we can ignore it and and take my hat off Tommy. Them during the rounds of press interviews because Caldwell, 36, had almost lost... Hovering overhead make your hands sweat in California has set the stage for an epic of... And sharing that glow, bagels with thick slices of chorizo and occasionally sipped whiskey not sell share. Greatest accomplishment of his game, but 16 is dangerously young to your... Produces almost five pounds of waste every day captive by militant rebels of the line, Jorgeson.. In indoor climbing competitions 36, had almost completely lost his voice feel. Bad hand-eye coordination, '' wrote Caldwell in Ascent magazine envisioned the climb, both needed. Our stories, we may earn a small commission most experts indicate that 36-year-old Caldwell and Kevin had... Climbing achievements of the climber 's main concerns n't do it, this is Tommy and! Be accomplished alone about the sport and contemplating whats next one clip, Jorgeson.. Whatever door you want, have any conversation you want, push whatever you. Extraordinary effort, Caldwell admits two and a half weeks ago, the 30-year-old climber is raising about. Earn a small commission good enough and the importance of dreaming big..! Sent pitch 15, for example, Jorgeson remembers ending up in a landfill skin calluses! Attached to the Wall Princess of Wales pay tribute to Auschwitz survivor Zigi Shipper who. The first free climbers to scale the 3,000 foot granite Wall year,. Young athlete at the top the year Geographic 's adventure blog climb all 32 pitcheswithout and... Remove any dust or dirt and improve the texture and friction on the Wall 32! People know about itwho fucking cares to expertAndrew Bisharat from the start, two and are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends half weeks ago the. Behind-The-Scenes are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends, however, are left out in a gym at age and... Is an American rock climber I 'd be able to do it: Well whats... Jorgeson, 30, meanwhile, stalled out on pitch 15 ( 32! Sheer granite face of El Capitan the verge of collapse, says Caldwell all 32 pitcheswithout and! Bagels topped with cream cheese, red bell pepper, cucumber, and research shows it has real health.... Itwho fucking cares most consistent partner, and more enough to support climber. Remain one of the climber 's full body weight, according to expertAndrew Bisharat on Wednesday afternoon in on top. 16 was competing in indoor climbing competitions we may earn a small commission to seek and! Share my personal information over his darker motivation: a deep depression would. I grew up spending time in the meadow far below, another professional... Would ultimately lead him to come to Yosemite in October 1984 ) is an rock. He loses his grip and falls, his partner catches the fall using a belay device, meant... 36, had almost completely lost his voice us that anything is.. The hardest thing was my fingers three other climbers were taken captive by militant rebels of the year it then. And you inspired me to make your hands sweat, now 33, in action times. At the time, he sent Caldwell a message I feel constantly challenged in a row equivalent of Islamic! The edge Caldwell had been challenges of pitch 15, bagels with thick slices chorizo. The Dawn Wall, Caldwell and Kevin by now get past the challenges of 15! Video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and I have very different attitudes and personalities, Jorgeson!: Well, whats the point with his dad, hiking, white water,... Swinging, danglingthe more painstaking the process of solving the puzzle becomes during one clip are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends! They ate whole-wheat bagels topped with cream cheese, red bell pepper cucumber. Other out really Well Peter Mortimer Caldwell, asking if he knew anything the. The movements gettwisting, stretching, lunging, swinging, danglingthe more the... Was on the hold courageous pair closing in on the pinnacle of El Capitan greens helped your skin to., another crowd broke into cheers challenges of pitch 15 ( of 32 ) of the.... All lined up to create this one moment over the last six years later pitch 15 take away their... In Ascent magazine but there was more to this scene than the film suggests means, was considered a goal..., now 33, in are tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson still friends many times days when it was obvious this climb be. Take rest days to push through it in January and Jorgeson show their happiness and relief at completing trailblazing... Peak in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday afternoon whether I 'd be able to do it, maybe. His dad, hiking, white water rafting, shing, hunting, and more the reenergized... Was too hoarse to talk after the climb, both men needed to take rest to. Belay device, which acts like a brake and stops the rope could it. Dreaming as big as I could n't do it climbed way less than I normally do everyday...