YOSEMITE VALLEY – Many of us have marveled at climbers making their way up the face of El Capitan. We are in awe of their skill and courage.
These brave athletes inspire many unanswered questions: How long does it take to climb El Capitan? Do climbers eat and sleep along the way? Who were the first people to climb this wall?
After a very successful pilot program in 2009, Yosemite Conservancy has funded an enhanced program led by Yosemite Climbing Association.
The shuttle bus stops by the El Capitan bridge where interpreters and climbing experts Tom Evans and Erik Sloan, set up telescopes and give equipment demonstrations in the Ask-A-Climber program funded by Yosemite Conservancy donors.
This extremely popular program invites park visitors — a mixture of climbers and non-climbers — to look through powerful telescopes and marvel at climbers making their way up the face of El Capitan, and to ask questions while experts provide real-time commentary on the climber’s progress.
Tom and Erik, accomplished climbers themselves (Erik has scaled El Capitan 80 times!), are eager to share their knowledge, passion and climbing stories with you. All you need to do is ask!
The program runs all summer seven days a week. Look for them on the El Capitan Bridge.
