On October 4th they managed 2 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds beating the 2002 record set by Hans Florine and Yuji Hirayama by 20 seconds, although initially there was some confusion over Florine and Hirayama's record time which had been reported at 2:48:30 and 2:48:55 which it transpired are both correct; the first time being the time it took Hirayama to get to the final tree and the second time being Florine's time to the final tree. On this first attempt the Huber's dropped an aider which slowed them down.
On the Huberbuam's second attempt on October 8th they took a back-up aider with them, which in any event they didn't need.
This Fall the Bavarian-born brothers spent four weeks in Yosemite National Park, California, preparing for the attempt and making numerous dummy runs on the face. “We started the whole project exactly two years ago,” Alexander explains. “Due to accidents and injuries we failed twice, so it cost a lot of motivation to come back and give it another try.”
“We climbed the route again and again in order to know the moves and tactical tricks as well as to gain the necessary endurance,” said Alexander Huber.
“California's Indian Summer offers the best conditions for climbers,” he continues. “There is no rain and the temperatures are just perfect.”
The Nose was first climbed in 1958 by Warren Harding, Wayne Merry and George Whitmore in 47 days using "siege" tactics: climbing in an expedition style using fixed ropes along the length of the route, linking established camps along the way. The first ascent of The Nose in one day was accomplished in 1975 by John Long, Jim Bridwell and Billy Westbay. In 1993 Lynn Hill free climbed the Nose. A year later she returned free climbing the Nose in a day.
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The Nose Speed Record - starting |
The Nose Speed Record - King Swing |
The Nose Speed Record - to the Stovelegs |
The Nose Speed Record - Stovelegs to KingSwing |
The Nose Speed Record - Camp4 to Top |
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