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Sasha DiGiulian Becomes First Woman to Free-Climb El Capitan’s Platinum Wall After 23-Day Push

The 39-pitch, rarely repeated Direct Line tested her through a nine-day storm layover.

Overview

  • DiGiulian topped out on Nov. 26 after a continuous, ground-up effort that lasted more than three weeks on the wall.
  • She waited out severe weather for nine days on portaledges, then resumed on wet, icy granite with falling ice overhead.
  • The Platinum Wall, also known as the Direct Line, spans 39 pitches and has seen only a handful of prior completions.
  • Partner Elliot Faber, who helped establish and map the route, left near the summit for a family emergency, and she completed the free ascent after waiting two days with his blessing.
  • Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell offered beta and encouragement during the push and later praised her perseverance through the storm and sustained difficulty.