Passage to Freedom | 8b Multi-pitch

27 pitches.

The first 11 pitches were established ground up by Leo Houlding, but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name.

In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible he bolted an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by Tim Emmett when he worked as a sales rep. for DMM) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section.

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/

Contributors: remus

Pics + Vids

Leo Houlding
Added at 07:01 on 16 January 2023

Ascents

3 recorded ascents, including 1 unsuccessful ascent.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Alex Honnold Lead (Worked) Between 28th Oct 2019 and 31st Oct 2019
First ascent.
Tommy Caldwell Lead (Worked) Between 28th Oct 2019 and 31st Oct 2019
First ascent.
Leo Houlding Lead (Did not finish) 1999

Leo climbed the first 11 pitches, attempting to establish a new free line ground up, but couldn't find a way forward from El Cap Tower.