Allegedly conceptualised by John Yablonski whilst under the influence of LSD. Named after the Jimi Hendrix song as it was considered as unlikely as lightning striking at midnight.
[1] https://kletterszene.com/stories/the-classics-boulder-midnight-lightning/
16 successful ascents recorded.
| Climber | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Kauk | Boulder | worked | 1978 | ||
| First ascent. | ||||
|
Ron uses a slightly different sequence to usual: instead of pressing fully in to the mantel he gets half way in to it and then uses a little crimp for the left hand. References[1] An ascent from approx. 1991 https://www.instagram.com/p/CmnRGViBEH8/ |
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| John Bachar | Boulder | worked | 1978 | ||
| Second ascent. | ||||
|
Bachar drew the original and iconic lightning bolt on the problem while working it with Ron Kauk and John Yabolinski in 1978. He would climb the problem regularly for an audience in Camp 4 at a time when no-one other than he and Kauk had managed it. References[1] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/1512130898853080 [2] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/886783774721132 [3] https://gripped.com/profiles/yosemite-climbing-legends-john-bachar/ |
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| Skip Guerin | Boulder | worked | 1983 | ||
| Third ascent. | ||||
| Kurt Smith | Boulder | worked | 1984 | ||
| Fourth ascent. | ||||
| Scott Cosgrove | Boulder | worked | 1984 | ||
| Fifth ascent. | ||||
|
Shortly after Kurt Smith. References[1] https://www.climbing.com/news/remembering-a-legend-scott-cosgrove/ |
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| Jerry Moffatt | Boulder | worked | 1984 | ||
| 1 session. | ||||
|
The first ascent in a day. |
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| Sean Myles | Boulder | flash | 1993 | ||
|
Contender for the first flash. Date approximate. References |
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| Ben Moon | Boulder | worked | Nov 1993 | ||
| Second go. | ||||
| Lynn Hill | Boulder | worked | 1998 | ||
| First female ascent. | ||||
|
Lynn worked the mantel on a rope first. |
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| Lisa Rands | Boulder | worked | 2001 | ||
|
Second female ascent and the first without practicing the mantel on a rope. References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2001/01/second_female_ascent_of_midnight_lightning-57 |
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| Angie Payne | Boulder | worked | 2004 | ||
| Mina Leslie-Wujastyk | Boulder | worked | 2012 | ||
References |
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| Adam Ondra | Boulder | flash | 30th Oct 2018 | ||
References |
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| Dillon McLaughlin | Boulder | flash | 2024 | ||
References |
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| Wolfgang Güllich | Boulder | worked | |||
References |
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| Kurt Albert | Boulder | worked | |||