Frank Sacherer


Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 1st May 1940
Age: 38 years old
Date of death: 31st August 1978
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E1

the first 70s free climber--in the mid-60s (Roger Breedlove)

Strong and fast climber responsible for first ascents or first free ascent of many short and mid-length Yosemite classics 1960-1965. His focus almost entirely on free climbing was unusual for the time. Sacherer mainly climbed at weekends as he was studying full-time for a PhD in particle physics at the University of California, Berkeley and most of his significant ascents were routes achievable in one day. Others have reported he discussed the possibility of climbing The Nose of El Capitan in a day and he made early attempts at freeing the Stoveleg Cracks on this route.

He migrated to Switzerland and worked at CERN in Geneva from 1970 to 1978.

References

[1] http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/268647/Frank-Sacherer-1940-1978

[2] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MOOd3ocAAAAJ&hl=en

Contributors
59 contributions since 9th October 2025.

Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 1st May 1940
Date of death: 31st August 1978
Age: 38 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E1

the first 70s free climber--in the mid-60s (Roger Breedlove)

Strong and fast climber responsible for first ascents or first free ascent of many short and mid-length Yosemite classics 1960-1965. His focus almost entirely on free climbing was unusual for the time. Sacherer mainly climbed at weekends as he was studying full-time for a PhD in particle physics at the University of California, Berkeley and most of his significant ascents were routes achievable in one day. Others have reported he discussed the possibility of climbing The Nose of El Capitan in a day and he made early attempts at freeing the Stoveleg Cracks on this route.

He migrated to Switzerland and worked at CERN in Geneva from 1970 to 1978.

References

[1] http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/268647/Frank-Sacherer-1940-1978

[2] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MOOd3ocAAAAJ&hl=en

Contributors
59 contributions since 9th October 2025.

Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

4 recorded ascents.

Sort
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

The day you do the Arrow Chimney is the day you do more work than any other day of your life (Frank Sacherer)

References

[1] Jones, C (1976). Climbing in North America. USA: University of California Press for the American Alpine Club p353.

Direct North Buttress First free ascent. E3 Lead | ground up 1965

Roper, S (1994). Camp 4: Recollections of a Yosemite Rockclimber. USA: The Mountaineers p181

Northeast Buttress First free ascent. E1 Lead | ground up 1964
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade