EL CAPITAN

Culminating at 2,307 m, the vertiginous granite wall of El Capitan is one of the symbols of the park. Climbing enthusiasts will have a great time on the dozen routes crisscrossing the rock. Hikers can access it from Yosemite Falls by walking west. On the southeast side of the mountain, the fine Horsetail waterfall, 650 meters high and flowing only in winter, sometimes gives the impression, under very special conditions, of setting fire to the sun.

Spectacular ascents are regularly accomplished on this emblematic mountain by many daring climbers. This is the case, for example, of Alex Honnold, who achieved, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, an outstanding performance since he climbed in free solo (that is, without ropes and alone) the El Capitan mountain in 4 hours of time. This mountain had never been climbed with bare hands before. Alex Honnold meticulously prepared his route, the so-called Freerider. The Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo , broadcast on National Geographic, chronicles the near-superhuman feat of this professional climber from Sacramento, California. El Capitan is a true obsession for seasoned climbers. Finally, on June 12, 2019, a brand new 10-year-old adventurer who has been immersed in the world of climbing since she was a child, Selah Schneiter, climbs the wall of El Capitan. She becomes the youngest climber in the history of ascents of the mountain and completes the list of records of this coveted summit.