2000. 144 pp, 36 photos. El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California, is the most unforgettable and awesome rock wall in America. Here is the complete story of its epic climbs, from Harding's 1958 45 day siege to the later climbs by Royal Robbins, Yvon Chouinard and today's generation of free soloists. New hardcover with dust jacket.
El Capitan towers 3,000 feet above California's Yosemite Valley, a perfect granite wall that has called out to climbers for years. By far the most coveted rock climb on earth, this is the first book devoted to its unique history.
In 'El Capitan', writer Daniel Duane recounts the vertical adventures had on this sheer face, from Warren Harding's 45-day siege in 1958 up through the recent speed climbs of under 5 hours. Offering engaging, emotional insight into the famous climbers of each decade, Duane articulates how El Capitan can totally consume a person. He brings to life the ferocious competition between El Capitan pioneers Royal Robbins and Warren Harding in the early 1960s, the elusive mastery and wildness of Jim Bridwell in the 1970s, the parallel lives of John Middendorf and Mike Corbett in the 1980s, and the perverse commitment of Scott Burk in the 1990s.'
An unforgettable face-all 3,000 granite feet of it. El Capitan towers above California's Yosemite Valley, a sheer rock wall, seemingly insurmountable, and by far the most coveted rock climb on earth. El Capitan traces the mountain's unique history and recounts the vertical adventures had there-from Warren Harding's 45-day siege in 1958 up through the recent speed climbs of under 5 hours. Critically acclaimed author Daniel Duane articulates how this massive wall can totally consume a person. Duane profiles the legends who have devoted themselves to El Capitan, including Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, and John Middendorf. Accompanied by 36 moody duotones, El Capitan captures the essence of big wall climbing.
