Jacob Cook and Robbie Phillips have repeated El Niño 5.13c (8a+) on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. This bold 30-pitch route was first climbed by the Huber Brothers back in 1998.
Despite a few failed attempts due to poor weather, the pair eventually managed to complete the climb, spending almost one week on the wall.
Robbie told UKC:
"Just sending you a wee update from Yosemite - Jacob Cook and I just managed to free "El Nino" (5.13c) on El Capitan. It was my first big wall on granite and my first route on El Cap - it's been a hard lesson this granite shizzle! It's Jacob's 4th trip to the valley but the first attempt at "El Nino" and we both freed every pitch."
British climbers Leo Houlding and Patch Hammond made the second ascent in very good style - coming close to flashing the route - shortly after the Huber Brothers had freed the line in 1998. James McHaffie and Dan McManus made the second British repeat in May 2014 (UKC News Report).
Stay tuned for a full account of the ascent from Jacob and Robbie...
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A great achievement! Do climbers still use the Hubers' tactic on the 'manpowered rappel' or just rap/lower in a conventional manner? Or indeed, has it been freed?
"The Prophet" is definitely something Jacob and I are keen for but I need to up my crack skillz a bit first... I'd have to be on crack to attempt 8b crack right now :P or maybe I could just pull harder but that hasn't worked so well for me on the cracks thus far
So I'm not really sure if others have done this? I don't link Leo or Patch did and I'm sure Dan and Caff didn't. We didn't :P I just kind of thought it seemed a bit silly and it would be simpler to just abseil 5m from the hanging belay haha But fair play to Alex and Thomas for their inventiveness!
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