Adam Ondra encounters first real difficulties on Dawn Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite
On his fourth day of climbing Adam Ondra has hit the first hurdle on Dawn Wall: after 7 attempts he failed to free climb the 14th pitch. Graded 9a, this is considered the most difficult up this big wall freed by Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson on El Capitan, Yosemite between 2014/2015.
Quick update from the Dawn Wall on El Capitan, where Adam Ondra has encountered the first difficulties. After a day of rest, after which the temperatures dropped dramatically with the arrival of the first snowflakes, yesterday morning the Czech climber waited for the shade once again. Then he started up the 14th pitch, the most difficult of all and the first of three that constitute the crux of the entire route.
And here the first signs appeared that indicate how hard the route freed by Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson is, and how much the 23-year-old is beginning to feel under pressure. "Damn! Climbed super poorly, so much pressure, so nervous! Needed 7 tries to make it through the first boulder problem on pitch 14, a boulder problem that i never really found very hard before, but somehow felt really hard today. I slipped on my first try, then on my second try, then just freaked out and felt so insecure with my feet trying to climb as carefully as possible but kept slipping nevertheless. Then, on my 7th try, I did the boulder problem, and fell from the last move. Hard to find some optimism, but I will try it again. Tomorrow and hopefully with better mindset. Thanks everyone for encouragement! I am sorry for today, hopefully there is still the chance!"
DAWN WALL
THE INDIVIDUAL PITCHS
P1: 5.12b, P2: 5.13a, P3: 5.13c, P4: 5.12b, P5: 5.12d, P6: 5.13c, P7: 5.14a, P8: 5.13d, P9: 5.13c, P10: 5.14a, P11: 5.13c, P12: 5.14b, P13: 5.13b, P14: 5.14d, P15: 5.14d, P16: Dyno Pitch 5.14d, Loop Pitch 5.14c, P17: 5.14a, P18: 5.13c, P19: 5.13c, P20: 5.13c, P21: 5.13c, P22: 5.12c, P23: 5.9, P24: 5.11, P25: 5.11, P26: 5.11d, P27: 5.11c, P28: 5.12c, P29: 5.12b, P30: 5.13a, P31: 5.12a, P32: 5.12b
BY DIFFICULTY
5.9 (5a): 1
5.11 (6b+): 4
5.12 (7a+): 8
5.13a (7c+): 2
5.13b (8a): 1
5.13c (8a+): 7
5.13d (8b): 2
5.14a (8b+): 4
5.14b (8c): 1
5.14d (9a): 2
Total: 32
RELATED NEWS
15/01/2015 - Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson free climb the Dawn Wall on El Capitan
19/10/2016 - Adam Ondra sees first light on Dawn Wall in Yosemite
23/10/2016 - Adam Ondra Yosemite Dawn Wall update #1
29/10/2016 - Adam Ondra Yosemite Dawn Wall update #2
07/11/2016 - Adam Ondra Yosemite Dawn Wall update #3
15/11/2016 - Adam Ondra starts 'final push' on Dawn Wall in Yosemite
