Picture this: You’re halfway up the right side of El Capitan. Below you is a string of maybe-hold-bodyweight pieces plugged into the scaly grey stone. The footholds are crispy and slowly spitting gravel away at the sides, so you’re gently rocking your weight back and forth on each foot to avoid one snapping off altogether. The most feasible line heads left, around a bulge, maybe. It looks hard. There’s no way to tell if it leads to decent gear, or to better holds. All around you the rock is sharp, fractured and overhanging. Alarm bells are going off. This doesn’t feel right.
What would you do? Forge on, running on faith, trusting in your own abilities, or back off? Nobody would blame you at this point for throwing in the towel. They’d likely just call it good judgement. It is the smart thing to do. If you go, you’re deeply committed.
This isn’t a fictional story. Leo Houlding actually went for it around the bulge, yanked the smallest of micro-wires into a bottoming seam, then promptly fell onto it, core-shotting one of his ropes. He eventually completed the pitch, dubbing it “The Screamer.” Having been there, I can’t imagine a bolder effort. Some would use the term “reckless”, and they might be right in that description. [1]
3 successful ascents recorded.
| Climber | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Houlding | Lead | worked | 22nd-27th October 2010 | ||
| First ascent. With Jason Pickles. | ||||
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Belayed by Jason Pickles who seconded most of the route except the crux A1 beauty pitch and the Devil's Dyno. Pickles was also instrumental in early attempts on the line, leading many hard and dangerous pitches while the pair made early ground up attempts on the line.
References[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CGpcyocjh5l/ [3] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2010/10/leo_houlding_frees_the_prophet_-_el_capitan-58588 [4] http://www.elcapreport.com/content/elcap-report-102710 [5] Leo discussing the successful ascent of the crux pitch with Steven Dimmitt on The Nugget https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQw2w5R4eo |
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| Sonnie Trotter | Lead | ground up | Nov 2011 | ||
| Second ascent. With Will Stanhope. | ||||
| Will Stanhope | Lead | worked | Oct 2012 | ||
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Will tried the route extensively in the 2011 season with Sonnie Trotter but was ultimately stopped by the A1 beauty pitch. He then returned in 2012 to finish the job. References |
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