El Capitan is a 3600 foot vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers.

It was 50 years ago today that Batso Harding and his buddies finnally conquered the “unclimbable” El Capitan. In Yosemite National Park Warren “Batso” Harding finally conquered El Capitan, a granite monolith that was considered unclimbable. Ever since that day in 1958 the nose route that harding established is now a classic climb attracting talented weekend pros, and climbers.

El Capitan is a truly magnificent slab of granite soaring 3,600 feet from the Yosemite Valley floor, almost vertically.

It took Batso and two climbing partners (Wayne Merry and George Whitmore) 45 days to reach the top of El Capitan. Over two climbing seasons beginning in 1957 to continue into 195. Batso and his helpers spent each day climbing to a new high point. They would set fixed lines before rapelling down to rest and get more supplies. Then they would use the fixe lnes to regain their high point and start up the face of this massive granite slab to yet another high point. Doing this over and over again. After 45 days of labor, on November 12, 1958 the impossible became possible.

The top of El Capitan can be reached by hiking out of Yosemite Valley on the trail next to Yosemite Falls, then proceeding west. For climbers, the challenge is to climb up the sheer granite face, there are now dozens of named routes, all of which are long and difficult, not to mention dangerous.

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