Epic climb nears climax

Epic climb nears climax

LOS ANGELES — One of the two climbers attempting what is billed as the world's hardest rock climb says he now believes he can achieve his goal, while his partner has overcome a key hurdle on the way to the top after a week of struggles.

Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are trying to become the first to scale the 900-metre "Dawn Wall" of the El Capitan rock formation in California's Yosemite National Park without bolts or other climbing tools.

Caldwell completed pitches 19 and 20 of the near-vertical granite face using only his hands and feet on Thursday night, spokeswoman Jess Clayton said.

After nearly two weeks of climbing, Caldwell is now two-thirds of the way up the wall at a spot known as Wino Tower, where Warren Harding, leader of the first team to climb El Capitan, rested during his ascent in 1970, using climbing tools.

Tommy Caldwell traverses Pitch 15 on El Capitan on Jan 3 as as he and Kevin Jorgeson (left) attempt what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world. Jorgeson finally completed Pitch 15 on Friday while Caldwell has made it to Pitch 20 of the 32-stage climb. (AP Photo)

"This section was the last big question mark in Tommy's mind and mentally represented a huge turning point for him," Clayton said.

"He now has full confidence that he can make it to the top. The remaining 1,000 feet (300 metres) of climbing, while still intimidating and challenging, are technically easier."

Caldwell had "tears of elation" in his eyes when he reached Wino Tower after a difficult climb through pitch 20, she said.

The climber's wife, Becca Caldwell, is also updating the adventure daily on her blog.

Jorgeson struggled for much of the last week on Pitch 15, writing on Instagram about how razor-sharp rock ledges had ripped the skin off his fingers. However, he finally completed the section on Friday.

"I'm not holding this train up," Jorgeson wrote in a text message sent to his girlfriend after he finally overcame his struggle.

Because the warmth of the day can cause their hands and feet to perspire, Jorgeson and Caldwell often start climbing at dusk.

The two first tried to scale the near-vertical rock face in 2010 and 2011 before returning for their current attempt on Dec 27.

The pair are using safety ropes in case of falls, and using ropes and other tools to move back and forth from their campsite perched high on the rock.

Each day, they try to climb one of the 32 pitches, varying lengths of rock that they try to master with only their hands and feet, until eventually they have climbed the whole wall.

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