NorCal Rock Climber Becomes the First Woman to Free Climb El Capitan’s Golden Gate Route

It was November 2019 when rock climber Emily Harrington had a terrifying fall on Yosemite’s El Capitan. She accrued brutal injuries after being rescued on the 3,000-foot rock face, only to be helped off the wall by world-famous climbers Adrian Ballinger, Jon Glassberg, Sanni McCandless and Alex Hannold.
A little under a year after that accident, Harrington broke a glass ceiling on that very rock wall, becoming the first woman to free climb the Golden Gate route on El Capitan, and the fourth person to ever achieve the accomplishment.
While most people had their eyes glued to the presidential election last week, 34-year-old Harrington made a historic ascent up El Capitan, which took her 21 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds later to reach the top. She announced her accomplishment on social media, showing the power of determination in the rock climbing world:
“I never believed I could actually free climb El Cap in a day when I first set the goal for myself. It didn’t seem like a realistic objective for me,” wrote Harrington. “I didn’t have the skills, fitness, or risk profile to move so quickly over such a large piece of stone. But I chose it exactly for that reason. Impossible dreams challenge us to rise above who we are now to see if we can become better versions of ourselves.”
The term “free solo†or “free climb†is used to describe a rock climb without any safety equipment. Of course, only the best of the best use this tactic as a way to challenge themselves, as it is extremely dangerous. One little hiccup or gush of wind could send you falling to your death.
Harrington was assisted on the climb by her boyfriend Adrian Ballinger, a renowned Mount Everest guide, and Alex Honnold, the famed star of Emmy-winning documentary “Free Solo.” During the climb, she faced adversity when her foot slipped and she fell sideways on a wall, causing blood stream down her face mid-climb. After taking an hour rest on the wall, she overcame her injury to continue to the top.
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Harrington now lives in Squaw Valley, California where she trains at a local gym while practicing at local Northern California climbing destinations. She spends here free time rounding out her outdoor athletic ability by running and skiing near Lake Tahoe.