Category Finalist 2010: Culture

Tim Kemple

In late fall 2009, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson joined forces to attempt a new free climb on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. They are an unlikely duo, but complement each other exceptionally well. Tommy is the most experienced big wall free climber in the world (he’s free climbed El Cap more than anyone in history); while Kevin is one of the United State’s strongest boulderers (he’s established a number of unrepeated test pieces), yet had never free climbed any routes on El cap until then.

The line they were attempting is El Capitan’s last great project, a free route that climbs directly through the blank, seamless face to the right the famous ‘Nose’ route. Because the climb is so difficult over a long route, they established a high camp at ‘Wino Ledge’, 600-meters above the valley floor. That’s where this shot was taken. My camera is in my right hand and my coffee in the left.

‘Wino’ was my base for three days while I shot Tommy and Kevin. Every morning we would wake with the feeling of the sun hitting our tent, crawl out of our sleeping bags and start the day with a coffee and oatmeal breakfast. Those guys will be back up on the wall this fall trying to put the project to rest, and I hope I can be back up there to see it all go down in person.

PHOTO INFO

Photographer: Tim Kemple
Athletes: Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
Location: Yosemite National Park, CA, USA

TECHNICAL INFO

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
ISO: 100
F-Stop: f 5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200