Conquer the cliff 900 m high with bare hands and rope

The Nose cliff in Mount El Capitan (California, USA), is a challenging free-climbing point to the point where Jorg Verhoeven, only 4 people in history successfully conquered.

The Nose cliff stands 914 m high and is a difficult challenge to conquer with many climbers.

In 2014, Verhoeven was the fifth person to finish climbing The Nose in Mount El Capitan, Yosemite, California.It took him 3 days for this journey, while the previous ones reached the peak in 12, 4 or even less than 1 day.

Verhoeven said: "Climbing in Yosemite is my dream since I started this passion. Just seeing The Nose from the beautiful route that leads here, my heart is beating harder."

When standing at the foot of the cliff, Verhoeven was determined to conquer The Nose, no matter how long it took.

Photographer Jon Glassberg follows Verhoeven as he prepares for the climb.Verhoeven mainly climbs in the early morning to avoid the daytime heat.

Glassberg said: "I spent time on the cliff recording Jorg's progress, then I climbed the rope to the top of El Capitan and spent the night there."

Verhoeven spent 3 weeks detailed planning for the climbing route, finding solutions to the difficult parts of the cliff before starting.

He explained the reasons for choosing a free climbing method: "The most primitive way of climbing is to be single, ie do not use ropes or other safety measures. But for me, the use of ropes, hooks and camping equipment to minimize the risk of losing your life is natural ".

Glassberg did not climb The Nose with Verhoeven, but spent days with him during the preparation.He climbed to the top of El Capitan mountain with a cable, then attached a rope to the top.After that, he dropped to Verhoeven to take a picture.

Verhoeven has more than 10 years of experience as a climber, and is always practicing to maintain his form.The Nose climbing route requires a lot of patience and technique, but Verhoeven said he feels very comfortable and ready to face this challenge.

The weather has a great influence on the climb.Sometimes the stone surface is so hot that it cannot be grasped with bare hands.At the same time, high temperatures reduce friction, hindering climbers.

During the climb, Verhoeven had many weather problems: "When I was about to start, the snowstorm appeared and covered the cliff. Fortunately, the storm only lasted a few days. Still, the first day I climbing, the top of the cliff is still wet, then the sun rises and dries the stone, only a hard place to climb is a bit wet. "

Glassberg's work is no less challenging: "Hanging yourself all day at an altitude of 700-800 m on a rope and facing wind and sunshine is not an easy task."

Verhoeven said: "Completing a goal you have dreamed of for a long time brings a lot of strong emotions".

"On the one hand, I was happy and pleased that I succeeded. On the other hand, I was sad because the project was over. Climbing such high cliffs brought unforgettable experiences and journeys, all of them. After finishing up after I reached the top, last but not least, I was tired and wanted to eat a pizza.