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3rd Free Ascent Of PreMuir By Elias & Kerzhner
Rock & Ice caught up with Sam Elias after he and Mike Kerzhner did the 3rd free ascent of PreMuir (5.13+) on El Capitan in Yosemite, CA:
He fired it [the crux stem corner pitch]. Then, so did I. It wasn’t romantic. It was a nerve-racking nightmare. It required all my physical strength, as well as my mental resolve. This pitch always haunted my thoughts, and I felt that if we could get through it, we’d have a really good chance. We easily dispatched the next 5.13a pitch, and when the day was over, we were psyched.
5 comments
This is actually Mike's 3rd free route on El Cap, but only the first time he has received any recognition in the interwebz climbing circles. Coincidentally, its the first time he climbed with a "celebrity climber." Would any of this have been reported if Mike did the route with someone else less "famous."? Mike happens to work a demanding full time job; climbing is simply a weekend gig for him. To me, thats way, way, way more inspirational than a pro climber.
My advice is simple: Start with a level of badassness/interest/groundbreak-ness that you deem to by newsworthy and report on that no matter who does it. The current approach seems to be more like "Breaking news, Alex Puccio farts in a boulder field, The North Face microtweets that smell indicates gluten free diet."
Like other sponsored climbers, it is Sam Elias' "job" to publicize what he is doing, no matter how amazing/trivial. Some climbers seem to be better self-marketers than others.
If Mike doesn't want to publicize what he is doing, that is his prerogative.
You and Mike should free the Nose just to test whether or not I will post about it
Mike Kerzhner - related to Greg Kerzhner?
http://www.mountainproject.com/images/68/95/106906895_large_36e2ed.jpg
Good genes.
O
Ah yes, little Greg. I remember when he climbed BOHICA barefoot... Fun times down at the 'lode!