Success at El Capitan: Silvan Schüpbach and Dimitri Vogt climb Muir Wall

The Muir Wall is considered a very challenging route. The smooth, sloping rock of El Capitan requires not only appropriate finger power, but also a sophisticated technique and a good morale. The route was 2001 climbed for the first time by Tommy Caldwell and Nick Sagar. Since then, this has only been accomplished by very few cliques, although it is a very aesthetic and obvious route.

Winter had a firm grip on the Muir Wall

When the two climbers arrived in Yosemite Valley on April 11, 2017, the chances of a successful ascent seemed very slim. The winter had the valley firmly under control, snow and meltwater made the route unclimbable. Nevertheless, the Swiss rope team struggled through the lower part of the wall. They explored the difficult pitches and created water deposits thanks to the meltwater.

Everyone contributed their share to the success

At the end of April, a 10-day period of good weather reached Yosemite. There was enough time for both of them to let the wall dry and start the decisive attempt to climb through. "It was clear to us that we would stay on the wall until both of them had cleared every pitch," says Silvan Schüpbach convinced. And the Silvan-Dimitri team worked brilliantly. "While I quickly found the solutions for the hard bouldering areas, Silvan was able to contribute his experience in crack climbing," says Dimitri about the successful ascent of the Muir Wall. Problems caused the two of them an unexpected rainy day, which forced them to inactivity in the portaledge. Unforgettable was the 60m chimney (The Shaft), which the two could only conquer with the greatest willpower and generous abrasions.