World news – US – Emily Harrington became the first woman to climb El Capitan in one day

Professional rock climber Emily Harrington made history Wednesday when she climbed a 3,000-foot granite wall in El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in less than 24 hours

While the rest of the country eagerly awaited the results of the 2020 presidential election, the five-time US national hero prepared to climb the hospital just one year ago.

“I never believed I could actually climb El Cap the day I first set the target myself,” Harrington wrote in an Instagram post “It didn’t seem like a realistic target to me. I didn’t have the skills, fitness, or risk profile to move So quickly over a large piece of stone. « 

But after 21 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds, Harrington reached the summit of El Capitan, making her the fourth person – and the first woman – ever to climb El Capitan for free in less than 24 hours

“I knew I was on a busy day – but that’s exactly why I was there I wanted to find my limit and be in it and fight behind it,” she wrote

Last year, Harrington suffered a brutal four-story fall while trying to climb itself Her rope – which climbers use for free in case of falls but not climbing – when she fell, but she was still in the hospital with scrapes, torn muscles, and concussions

“I had an accident yesterday at El Cap.” Harrington wrote in a post on Instagram at the time while I was recovering, but I’ll be fine. She said that while she fell, her safety rope scratched her neck, leaving a horizontal bruise she showed in her Instagram post

Harrington also said she was lucky to climb alongside her boyfriend Adrian Ballinger, the famous guide to Mount Everest, and Alex Honnold, who was the first person to climb El Capitan for free in less than 24 hours helped the pair stabilize Harrington after her fall until the rescue arrived, wrote. Ballinger in his own Instagram post at the time found Herrington « on edge after a massive drop in temperatures below freezing point with real injuries and many reasons to suspect a spinal injury », but Harrington was « fine » and we’ll be back in the vertical world soon.

Wednesday’s rise was not without its challenges either. A « dirty slip » left Harrington wondering if she could continue moving forward. She wrote in her Instagram post that the slide almost made her decision and that a « deep wound » in her forehead left her « bloody and defeated. »She added, « I backed off again, part of me doesn’t really want to stay on the wall, the other part combines guts and gushing I kept thinking » Why am I still holding on?  »

After getting past the same point it stopped last year, Harrington was making history

« I cried in horror – it could happen this time I felt terrified in the last five pitches in my current state, but I backed off the last lip at 10:30 pm in disbelief »

“There is a lot to say but mostly I wanted to express my gratitude for the love and support of friends, family and strangers.” “Feeling deeply in love now, thank you all”

El Capitan, Emily Harrington, Free Climbing, Yosemite National Park, Adrian Ballinger