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Back in the Yosemite National Park |
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Friday, 21 May 2010 03:32 |
Since last year nothing much has changes. The landscape is still breathtaking. In the eveing light we reached the Valley. El Cap is shining red. A dramatic scenery. The clouds over the granit seemed to burn. My climbing partner Alex Honnold has been in the Valley already for some days. We met each other for the first time at the El Cap Meadwos. Alex is full of beans. If I would not know what he has already climbed in his life, I would think he is a normal, motivated climber. Alex is 24 years old and has climbed the most wildest things.
I left Bern on Monday morning, May 17, 2010 at 5.30. It was a long journey to San Francisco, where I arrived late in the eveing of the same day. Tuesday, May 18, we spent doing the last preparations. After we left to the Valley. I felt like being on the way nonstop for two days. And there I met Alex full of beans. Tomorrow, Wednesday we will climb the Nose on El Cap. Most climbers need three days to climb this route. We want to be back in the valley in the evening.
Wednesday morning, May 19, 2010: Alex and I are at the entry. We just met each other and today we climb together for the fist time in our lives. Between us 30 meters of rope and some intermediate belays. Slowly I start to forget my jetlag and enjoy the golden granit. After the Sickel Ledge we pass a second rope team. Kindly they let us pass. We climb together and quickly we gain height. Doit Tower: we are on the way since one hour. We make a first stop to eat and drink something. It is like a solo: you never have to stop. Just climb, step by step. Now the route is more technical and we need some rope tricks to overwhelm the Kingswing. Short afterwards we find ourselves underneath the famours Great Roof. Again we have to pass rope teams. Fortunately that Alex is so famous in the States. Immediately they let us go by. The Great Roof is pretty wet. Also the cracks and the pitches above are not in perferct conditions.
We need 4 hours and 40 minutes to climb the 1000 meters hight granit. We are happy. We never thought being to fast. For me it's the first time that I climb El Capitan in one day.
Thursday morning, May 20, 2010: Alex and I stand at the same place as yesterday morning. We climb the route once again. Today our confidence in each other is much higher. Though we are a bit tired from our yesterday's climb we move on well. Today: 4 hours and 20 minutes.
Let's see how it will get on. Anyway: we are having a great time. Just climb. We complement one another and the team seems to function.
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