AssetID: 55324311
Headline: RAW VIDEO: US rock climber becomes first woman to scale 'El Capitan' formation's toughest route
Caption: Sasha DiGiulian, 33, has become the first woman to free climb the longest route on Yosemite’s El Capitan, completing the 40-pitch Platinum route. The American climber reached the summit on 26 November 2025, securing the first female free ascent of the line. She led 27 of the 40 pitches, including every crux. DiGiulian spent nine days pinned to her portaledge as storms drenched the upper wall, forced long pauses in progress and left key crux sections dripping even after the weather cleared. Her ascent is only the fourth time a team has climbed the route since its establishment. Established between 2009 and 2017, Platinum Wall is regarded as one of El Capitan’s most complex and demanding free climbs. Unlike many El Cap routes, which follow crack systems, Platinum Wall weaves through long, technical face climbing and powerful traverses beneath a major roof feature. It is protected by the highest density of bolts on the formation, and continuous free ascent requires precision, endurance and stable weather - conditions DiGiulian did not have. Despite icefall, water sheeting from the summit and prolonged exposure on the wall, DiGiulian continued upwards and completed the route after three seasons of preparation. “This climb started as a wild, audacious dream, something that honestly terrified me. I battled so many moments of feeling unprepared or not good enough. But pitch by pitch, I proved to myself that when you show up, commit, and keep believing, you can do things you once thought were impossible. This ascent is the proudest achievement of my career,” she said from the summit, her fingertips swollen and taped after leading each crux pitch. Reflecting on the days spent sheltering through storms, she added: “That storm was one of the scariest experiences of my life. The wind hammered the portaledge all night, the poles were bending, and I couldn’t stop thinking it might break. I felt isolated, exhausted, and terrified - but I also knew I’d regret it forever if I didn’t give this climb every possible chance. So I chose to stay. Day by day, breath by breath, believing the storm would eventually pass.” When she reached the most demanding section of the climb, DiGiulian said: “The roof pitch was soaked, and I was exhausted - my hands, shoes, everything was wet. I fell, pulled the rope, and went again. By the downclimb, my whole body was shaking with nerves and adrenaline, just trying to breathe and hold on. When I clipped the anchor, I screamed and burst into tears. It wasn’t the top, but it was the end of the hardest pitches - the moment I realised the summit was actually possible.” She said encouragement from fellow climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell helped lift her spirits: “Super epic (that) we are still here!”
Keywords: feature,photo,climbing,red bull,video,el capitan,yosemite
PersonInImage: Sasha DiGiulian climbing El Capitan.