A Brief, Biased History of Big Wall Climbing

It is, as its name suggests, a short and biased (ie non exhaustive) analysis of big wall climbing, but in any case it’s highly worth watching. Animated by award-winning artist Jeremy Collins and narrated by highly talented rock climber Timmy O’Neill (who set a speed record up The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite together with Dean Potter in 2001), this short film touches on some of the most important moments in big wall climbing across the globe.

1865: Matterhorn, Edward Whymper
1938: Eiger North Face, Heinrich Harrer, Anderl Heckmair, Fritz Kasparek, Ludwig Vörg
1958: El Capitan, The Nose, Warren Harding, Wayne Merry, George Whitmore
1964: El Capitan North America Wall Yvon Chouinard, Tom Frost, Chuck Pratt, Royal Robbins
1968: Fitz Roy, Patagonia, California route, Yvon Chouinard, Richard Dorworth, Lito Tejada Flores, Chris Jones, Doug Tompkins
1975: El Capitan The Nose in giornata, Jim Bridwell, John Long, Billy Westbay
1992: Great Trango Tower, Pakistan John Middendorf, Xaver Bongard
1994: El Capitan The Nose first free ascent, Lynn Hill
2002: El Capitan The Nose speed record, Yuji Hirayama, Hans Florine