The Dawn Wall | E12/9a Multi-pitch on El Capitan

UKClimbing.com
32 pitches. See also Mescalito, Wall of Early Morning Light and New Dawn. Topos: PlanetMountain.

Probably the hardest big wall in the world. Free climbs parts of Mescalito, New Dawn, and Adrift linked by independent climbing. Following coverage by John Branch in the New York Times the first ascent became an international news story.

References

[1] https://www.dawnwall-film.com/

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/09/sports/the-dawn-wall-el-capitan.html

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/sports/on-el-capitans-dawn-wall-two-climbers-make-slow-progress-toward-a-dream.html

Contributors
remus
40 contributions since 19th December 2021.
duncancritchley
16 contributions since 14th November 2025.

Lists

Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.

Ascents

4 successful ascents recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Kevin Jorgeson Lead | worked Between 27th Dec 2014 and 14th Jan 2015
First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/tommy-caldwell-and-kevin-jorgeson-free-climb-the-dawn-wall-on-el-capitan.html

[2] The Dawn Wall (2017)
Tommy Caldwell Lead | worked Between 27th Dec 2014 and 14th Jan 2015
First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/tommy-caldwell-and-kevin-jorgeson-free-climb-the-dawn-wall-on-el-capitan.html

[2] The Dawn Wall (2017)
Adam Ondra Lead | worked Between 14th Nov 2016 and 22nd Nov 2016
Second ascent. With Pavel Blažek.

A hugely impressive effort over 8 days, especially given Adam's relative lack of big wall experience at the time.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CpDX4qKsxfU/

[2] https://stara.emontana.cz/adam-ondra-dawn-wall-interview/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt_Q2coXfKg
Sébastien Berthe Lead | worked Between 17th Jan 2025 and 31st Jan 2025
Third ascent. With Soline Kentzel.

Several times over these 14 days, for different reasons, the adventure almost came to an end, and the final hours were so painful that I sincerely believe I came face-to-face with my physical and mental limits for the first time in my life. It was so close 😅

I climbed my very best in those last days, and I fought hard. At the end of this journey on the Dawn Wall: a dream, an incredible achievement, and a major milestone in my climbing life, of which I am more than happy and proud! [1]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DFw0YWvx2lt/?img_index=1

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/02/seb_berthe_makes_fourth_ascent_of_the_dawn_wall-73895

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/DGdwxBmNOK_/

[4] https://www.instagram.com/p/DG3rF_Yyr5U/?img_index=1

[5] https://www.grimper.com/news-blog-assaut-el-capitan-seb-berthe-soline-kentzel

[6] https://www.grimper.com/news-assaut-el-cap-chapitre-ii-depart-trombe-vers-yosemite-video

[7] https://www.grimper.com/news-assaut-el-cap-chapitre-iii-perdus-atlantique-video

[8] https://www.grimper.com/news-assaut-el-cap-chapitre-iv-les-ameriques-enfin-ou-plutot-abya-yala

[9] https://www.grimper.com/news-assaut-el-cap-chapitre-qu-est-ce-fous-la-video

[10] https://www.grimper.com/news-sur-dawn-wall-seb-berthe-il-trouve-qu-il-cherchait

[11] https://www.grimper.com/news-le-dawn-wall-1-000-9a-max-immersion