After more than 2 weeks of effort, two climbers Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell successfully conquered the summit of El Capitan – the most difficult mountain to climb in the world, without using support equipment.
According to BBC, they are the first climbers in the world to do this. They are expected to have an interview with the press on January 15 (US time).
Kevin Jorgeson, 30 years old, and Tommy Caldwell, 36 years old, began climbing El Capitan – 914m high, located in Yosemite National Park, USA, on December 27, 2014 without support equipment, except for ropes. ropes and protective gear to prevent the risk of death in the event of a fall.
At night, they slept in tents hanging on the cliffs.
Before reaching the top of the mountain, both of them slipped, crashed into the cliff, and could have suffered even more serious injuries if they did not have a safety belt. On social media, Jorgeson admitted there were times of frustration, but “I will not give up. I will rest. I will try again. I will succeed.”
Kevin Jorgeson’s father, Eric Jorgeson, said his son started climbing when he was 15 years old and “climbed everything he could think of.” “It makes us parents worry, but we get used to it,” he said. He also said he was very proud of his son’s climbing trip.
Sandy Van Nieuwenhuyzen – Tommy Caldwell’s sister, also shared her joy and pride: “I feel like I am the proudest person in the world right now.”