Czech climber Honza Riha is probably the second blind person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite, California via the Nose (V 5.9 C2, or 5.13+ free).

Vojtech Cleaning somewhere above the Sickle Ledge

Janek Bednařík in Great Roof

He did it 17-19 August 2007 in a three member team. He didn't lead any pitches, but cleaned thema as second and helped haul the gear. 

They bivied twice on the wall and one night on the top. They climbed the first four pitches during the first day to the Sickle Ledge, where they fixed ropes and stashed gear. All together they spent 4 days on the route.

The other members of the team:
Janek Bednarik (mountain guide) and Vojtech Watt Dvorak (Singing Rock).


Honza Riha (on left) and Janek Bednarik. Camp VI

Honza Riha on the top

The Nose was first climbed in 1958 by Warren Harding, James Whitmor and Wayn Mary.
In 1960 the first "single push ascent" took  to the team of Joe Fitschen, Chuck Pratt, Tom Frost and Royal Robbins 6 days.
The route usually takes 19 to 32 pitches.

The Honza Riha team jointed some pitches and the route made about 28 pitches. They climbed free some of pitches 5.9 to 5.10c including the Stoveleg Cracks and the Pancake Flake.


Janek cleans Changing Corners

Bivuaque. Police Camp IV. Honza Riha

The article + photos and video will come at www.singingrock.cz.
The action was supported by the Czech Mountaineering Union CHS.




The source is the Czech article by Vojtech Watt Dvorak on www.lezec.cz Czech version of CzechClimbing.com.