Climbers from USA

Yosemite big wall pioneer and blacksmith. His hand-forged hard steel - and thus reusable - pitons were the technological breakthrough that enabled long routes to be climbed on the granite walls of Yosemite.

Californian activist and free-soloist. Credited with conceptualising Midnight Lightning and an early proponent of the bouldering sit-start.

References

[1] Portrait by Dean Fidelman, 1978 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_TXWJjs6R/

[2] https://www.climbing.com/people/bouldering-sit-start-john-yablonski/

Yosemite big wall pioneer, Himalayan mountaineer and guide.

References

[1] https://adventuresportsjournal.com/kim-schmitz-yosemite-climbing-legend/

Climbing 5.13 into his 70s!

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/news/lee-sheftel-59-climbs-5-14/

[2] https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/02/04/wicked-gravity-performance-climbings-hidden-trend-outdoor-elites-are-getting-older/

Yosemite climber of the 60s and early 70s. Participated in first and early ascents of big walls in Yosemite. Co-founder of Royal Robbins LLC, outdoor clothing company.

References

[1] https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/adventure/about-us/heritage/

[2] Robins, Liz. (2022). First Ascent. in: Valley of Giants ed. DeLaunay Miller, Lauren. United States: Mountaineers Books.

[3] https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/liz-robbins-shares-untold-stories-from-her-yosemite-days-with-royal/

Key figure of Stonemasters era Yosemite climbing who went on to become an Academy Award winning film rigger and camera operator.

References

[1] Obituary on climbing.com, Jan 2025 https://www.climbing.com/people/a-climber-we-lost-mark-chapman