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 (3 contributions since 16 Jan 2023)
Added 16th January 2023. Last updated 17th January 2023.

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
Tommy Caldwell Lead | worked Between 28th Oct 2019 and 31st Oct 2019
First ascent.
Alex Honnold 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.