They did it!!!

"doesn't that other guy they interviewed on 60 Minutes climb Yosemtie walls without a rope? Climbed it twice in one day…"

Uh….not the Dawn Wall, Jerry.

(just trying to be provacative troll – I think it was some other route on El Cap)

"just trying to be provacative troll – I think it was some other route on El Cap"

I know. I was just jerking your chain. I've noticed the resident trolls are getting a tad sensitive of late, and I confess to getting a certain perverse kick out of ribbing them a little, sort of like baiting the $hit slinging chimp at the zoo. You're basically troll lite, so I apologize for turning you into collateral damage. ;0)))

are you calling me a resident troll???

(any attention is better than none)

"are you calling me a resident troll???"

Nah, I think trolling has to be an intentional act, and I don't think you know what the heck you're doing….

One of the coolest things about this, IMO, was that though one was having a lot of difficulty that the other was not, instead of just doing the climb on his own, the one not having many issues waited, climbed back down to help – just didn't want to finish without his friend.

Very, very cool.

I resent that Tom.

I'm not sensitive.

I'm not! I'm not! I'm not!

Op,

This is an unbelievable and amazing accomplishment. Climbing fascinates me anyways but this is off the charts.

"I resent that Tom.

I'm not sensitive.

I'm not! I'm not! I'm not!"

Now, now. Time for a "cookie" and warm milk, and then off to bed with you. ;0)

Yea I thought so too. It is a wonderful example of strength, partnership and courage. I hope it inspires others. I'm too old to do that stuff any more but it's the kind of thing I might have aspired to do had I had the resources and training as a younger person. I was a wild kid…in a good, outdoorsy way.

.

The sad thing is that non climbers will never understand the amount of work and difficulty of the route. They spent years working on the route.. going back to it every season when they could have been doing many more routes. Even sharma's Jumbo Love only took a few seasons to send.

Oh I don't think so Jake, many who strive for athletic greatness know that to try again and again is to learn, and these lessons are not cheaply gained in hardcore endeavors. Goes to prove that anything worth having is worth working hard for. You don't have to be a climber to know a lot of skin, blood and sweat and pure gutsy ness went into this accomplishment.

I'm not a climber, I never figured out what a 5.d means (or whatever that is…), and I have no idea how one can poop in a portaledge.

But I will say that I followed this every day, loved the videos and the photos, and I have been enthralled by each and every move they made. Jump sideways 6 feet and catch yourself on that little sliver of rock??? That's INSANE! What's crazy to me is that they didn't slice all their fingers off (I nearly lost the tip of a toe kicking a piece of Yosemite granite during an ill-conceived barefoot midnight pee run)

Anyway – I think the fact they had cell service the whole time, and could post to social media constantly (I mean, what else were they going to do for 18 non-climbing hours/day?), and the photographers could also post THEIR photos throughout made this wonderful to watch. A true will-they-or-won't-they??? storyline! Very compelling, especially when one could have easily gone on and finished with all the glory, but waited and helped for his partner. Just a great story!

So I may be a non-climber with absolutely NO idea what they're doing – but it still looks ridiculously challenging, amazing, and pretty damned cool.

Should the government just stick to running jails and …

OH Jerry, PLS Jerry … don't get me started on the private sector corrections facility industry!

I'm also a non-climber, and the pooping question came up the second I told my wife about it, but yeah, it was pretty great to see all about it, and I think one of my favorite aspects was that almost every article I read made a good attempt at explaining not just that it's difficult (which, anybody can say, "That's hard.") but that they showed how difficult it was by trying to lay out some of what goes into making it possible. Even the fact that now the route is known, even someone who is an excellent climber probably still couldn't follow it up the same way.

And, above all that, one was nailing it, and the other got stuck, and they worked it out to do it together. That's pretty cool.

Two things.

Thing one:

"Oh I don't think so Jake, many who strive for athletic greatness know that to try again and again is to learn"

Well some of us who strive for athletic mediocrity can still appreciate this accomplishment so pfffttt to you all!

Thing two:

How in the hell DO they poop on that climb? I assume that hanging your arse over the portaledge and letting 'er rip is frowned upon?

The answer to our most pressing question: http://www.reddit.com/r/climbing/comments/1dyc2m/poop_etiquette_on_big_wall_climbing/

It's called a Poop tube, evidently. I'm wondering if on a climb that long they lower it down periodically for some poor friend to empty for them.

How long do you think until Alex Honnold solos it?

"How long do you think until Alex Honnold solos it?"

He has already answered that question:

"Someday will somebody free the Dawn Wall without protection?
Free solo it? No, never."

http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/races-sports/alex-honnold-on-the-dawn-wall-climb-20150112

" I assume that hanging your arse over the portaledge and letting 'er rip is frowned upon?"

Yes, especially if it scores a bulls eye. Guaranteed to put a frown on the face of even the most dedicated moon gazer.

"How in the hell DO they poop on that climb? I assume that hanging your arse over the portaledge and letting 'er rip is frowned upon?"

I watched some dumb show about Alaskan bush pilots. They asked the same question of some climbers they were transporting to a remote peak. Apparently some do just let 'er rip, and the result is known as a "mud falcon".

I'm in tears laughing

I imagine a mud falcon off an isolated peak wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as one off the dawn wall. Ah, yosemite valley crowds!

"Ah, yosemite valley crowds!"

Not after the first day….

PVC tube with screw top. Then it can be emptied bag and all into certain toilets paper bag and all.

Like on river raft trips, you don't pee at the same time.

They must have some good friends to empty it for them.