Tanner Wanish and Michael Vaill climbed the linkup of three big wall routes on El Capitan, Half Dome and Mount Watkins, known as the Yosemite Triple Crown, in an incredible 17 hours and 55 minutes, dethroning the previous speed record holders Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds.
There are only a handful of climbers who consider, let alone are capable of, the Yosemite Triple Crown in under 24 hours. With the Nose on El Capitan, the regular northwest face on Half Dome and the south face on Mount Watkins, there are a total of 77 pitches with 2448 meters of climbing. In addition, there is a 30-kilometer running distance to connect the routes.
Last weekend Tanner Wanish and Michael Vaill completed the massive linkup in 17 hours and 55 minutes, beating the previous record holders Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds were given 35 minutes.
I'm super proud that we pulled it off in the style that we did.
Michael Vaill
Yosemite Triple Crown in 17 hours and 55 minutes
"I am even prouder to know so many incredible people who gave everything to support us during the preparation, execution and celebration of this goal," enthuses Michael Vaill. He and Wanish started the mega linkup on October 19th in the late afternoon with the south face of Mount Watkins. After just 2 hours and 52 minutes they were on the summit.
They climbed the world-famous big wall The Nose on El Capitan at night, as the timelapse below impressively shows. Climbing time for the 1000-meter wall: 5 hours and 25 minutes. The last route of the Yosemite Triple Crown was the regular northwest face on Half Dome, which the duo climbed in 4 hours and 5 minutes.
Nine successful teams
Climbing the three biggest walls in Yosemite Valley within 24 hours is a challenge that only a very few of the world's best big wall climbers take on. So far, fewer than ten teams have managed the triple within 24 hours. The last to do so were Miles Fullman and Tyler Karow in 2023.
Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds held the previous best time of 18 hours and 30 minutes. Alex Honnold is the only one who dared to tackle this endeavor solo and managed to complete it in 19 hours.
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Credits: Cover picture Tanner Wanish and Michael Vaill