The story of two U.S. rock-climbers conquering the Dawn Wall cliff face in Yosemite National Park in California using only their bare hands has caught the attention of many Korean media outlets.
Major Korean newspapers recently reported that Kevin Jorgerson and Tommy Caldwell free-climbed the Dawn Wall route up El Capitan for the first time in the history of rock climbing. They started free-climbing the 914-meter wall on December 28, 2014, and made an accomplishment of reaching the top without using any equipment, except ropes tied to their waste to prevent them from falling.
On January 16, the Hankook Ilbo reported in an article titled "Impregnable, great wall bows to men's determination" that, "the two climbers have been striving and training since 2009, as if they were after Moby Dick. They prepared for five years to challenge the impossible."
The Seoul Shinmun released an article titled "Overcoming living as a hostage, aphasia... the impossible," while the Segye Ilbo wrote, "Climber with nine fingers rewrites rock-climbing history."
The newspapers reported that the El Capitan rock is the world's biggest single granite stone and that it is compared to the Holy Land in that every rock-climber wants to climb it. In particular, the Dawn Wall face on the southeast is considered the most difficult route up El Capitan.
One of the most difficult parts was about half-way up. On the 15th pitch, Coldwell succeeded right away, but Jorgerson fell 11 times over the course of a week. Jorgerson had to wait for two days until his wounded bloody fingers healed and barely succeeded in passing the pitch on the ninth day.
The Seoul Shinmun reported that the Dawn Wall is special because it is nearly impossible to climb and that it will remain one of the world's most difficult rock-climbing routes anywhere in the world.
The newspapers also reported that Caldwell lost his left index finger while wood-working in 2001, but that he still enjoyed climbing with bare hands, which otherwise might seem reckless. They wrote that a doctor suggested he try a different career other than rock-climbing, but that he did not give in.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
Major Korean newspapers recently reported that Kevin Jorgerson and Tommy Caldwell free-climbed the Dawn Wall route up El Capitan for the first time in the history of rock climbing. They started free-climbing the 914-meter wall on December 28, 2014, and made an accomplishment of reaching the top without using any equipment, except ropes tied to their waste to prevent them from falling.
Many Korean newspapers publish articles about the two U.S. rock-climbers who reached the top of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park, on January 16.
On January 16, the Hankook Ilbo reported in an article titled "Impregnable, great wall bows to men's determination" that, "the two climbers have been striving and training since 2009, as if they were after Moby Dick. They prepared for five years to challenge the impossible."
The Seoul Shinmun released an article titled "Overcoming living as a hostage, aphasia... the impossible," while the Segye Ilbo wrote, "Climber with nine fingers rewrites rock-climbing history."
The newspapers reported that the El Capitan rock is the world's biggest single granite stone and that it is compared to the Holy Land in that every rock-climber wants to climb it. In particular, the Dawn Wall face on the southeast is considered the most difficult route up El Capitan.
One of the most difficult parts was about half-way up. On the 15th pitch, Coldwell succeeded right away, but Jorgerson fell 11 times over the course of a week. Jorgerson had to wait for two days until his wounded bloody fingers healed and barely succeeded in passing the pitch on the ninth day.
The Seoul Shinmun reported that the Dawn Wall is special because it is nearly impossible to climb and that it will remain one of the world's most difficult rock-climbing routes anywhere in the world.
The newspapers also reported that Caldwell lost his left index finger while wood-working in 2001, but that he still enjoyed climbing with bare hands, which otherwise might seem reckless. They wrote that a doctor suggested he try a different career other than rock-climbing, but that he did not give in.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
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