Vimeo Text
BD Athlete Alex Honnold wants to be left alone. No, not really, but he did take the unusual approach of climbing alone on fixed lines as he worked to free a route on Yosemite's Leaning Tower, a 1500-foot prow of overhanging granite, that Todd Skinner had originally tried more than a decade ago. This past fall Alex managed to free the lower portion of the route (naming it A Gift From Wyoming and grading it mid-range 5.13), but the 5.14/5.15 business on the headwall waits unredpointed.
Here is Part #2 (filmed and edited by John David Dickey) which follows Alex as he makes the first ascent.
Part #1, which introduces Alex's motivations for tackling the first ascent challenge, can be watched here: blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/journal/climb/all/video-1-bd-athlete-alex-honnold-making-the-first-ascent-of-ia-gift-from-wyomingi-513-on-yosemites-leaning-tower
This video was previewed in the Climbing 2013 digital catalog-28 pages of exclusive photos, videos and stories of first ascent from the past and present. To view Cliimbing 2013 digital catalog, go here: catalog.blackdiamondequipment.com/