Lynn Hill: A Vertical Life

Lynn Hill, born in the United States in 1961, is arguably the most influential woman in rock climbing to this day. Nowadays, more and more women are climbing, but back in the 80s, it was truly something uncommon. She is renowned for her free ascent of The Nose in Yosemite Valley.

 Photo: 3.bp.blogspot

Hill was born in Detroit, Michigan, but soon moved to California. At the age of 14, she started climbing, encouraged by her sisters. In less than five years, she would become part of the climbing community at the famous Camp 4 in Yosemite. Her relationship with climber John Long helped her learn and gain experience.

Photo: cloudfront

In 1979, she became the first woman to redpoint an 8th-grade route (7c+/8a), which was a groundbreaking achievement at the time. From 1986 to 1992, Lynn was by far the strongest climber, winning over 30 international titles, including five victories at the Arco Rock Master.

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The only one capable of challenging her and offering resistance was the French climber Catherine Destivelle, with whom she shared a healthy rivalry. After ending her career as a professional climber, Lynn focused on rock and big wall climbing. She made a grand entrance into big wall climbing by achieving the first female ascent of The Shield.

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Lynn's greatest achievement, the one for which she is known worldwide and will go down in history, was the first free climb of The Nose on El Capitan (USA) in 1994. She wasn't the first woman in free climbing, but the first in absolute free climbing. No one had ever been able to climb the famous route using only hands and feet. Hill set a new standard for The Nose.

Photo: sensepell.files

• In 1991, she achieved the first female 8b+ in the world with Masse Critique in Cimai, France.
• In 1998, she made the first female ascent of the iconic boulder ‘Midnight Lightning’ in Yosemite.
• In 1999, along with Beth Rodden, Nancy Feagin, and Kath Pyke, she freed Bravo ‘Les Filles’ in Madagascar.
• In 2005, she made the first free ascent of ‘West Face’ on the Leaning Tower in Yosemite with Katie Brown.

Photo: mountainproject

She has written a book, published in Spain by Desnivel, titled Free Climber, My Life in the Vertical World, where she recounts her experiences and impressions firsthand.

See also:

• Dean Potter: Fly or Die
• The 11 Best Adventure Mountains in Peru
• Several tourists attended the RockFest 2014 Festival in Valle Dorado Huayhuay, La Oroya
• Climbing in Antacocha