North American Cordillera

American climber Connor Herson established a new challenging thread route Drifter's Escape in Squamish, British Columbia, grading it 5.15a (9a+).

Connor Herson from the USA has set a new standard in trad climbing by ascending the route Drifter’s Escape in Squamish, British Columbia. The route, which he graded 5.15a (9a+ in the European classification), is claiming the title of the world's most challenging trad route. The route follows meager cracks on , a 700-meter granite monolith. It is a very popular wall with numerous multi-pitches. A key moment in Drifter’s Escape is a complex dynamic move called the "chase". "I didn't grade the route for several months after the ascent," Herson said. Herson announced the grade only in spring 2026 to draw media attention ahead of a film about his ascent and other notable achievements in 2025. The four-part series Born From the Climbing Life, filmed by Erik Bissell, will air next month on Black Diamond channels. Additionally, the director's cut of the first ascent of Drifter’s Escape will be featured as part of the Mellow Film Tour, starting February 27 in Boulder, Colorado. Source: ExplorersWeb, Angela Benavides

Ascent of the "Reticent Wall" route on the southeast face of El Capitan by a team of Russian climbers with a detailed description of tactics and equipment.

Passport Technical class North America, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park. El Capitan summit via Reticent Wall route. Southeastern part of the wall. Approximate complexity category 6B (American classification VI, 5.9, A5) Route length of walled part — 1085 m. Length of sections with 6th category of complexity — 1015 m. Heights: Height of the beginning of the walled part (above sea level) — 2120 m. Height of the end of the walled part (above sea level) — 2189 m. Height difference of the walled part — 909 m. Average steepness — 90°.

### "Flight of the Alba­tros" Route Passport 6B category of difficulty on El Capitan, USA, with a detailed description of technical characteristics and passage.

Passport Class: rock climbing USA, California, Sierra Nevada. Yosemite area. Peak: El Capitan. Route: Flight of the Albatros. 6B category of difficulty. Elevation gain – 950 m. Route length – 1140 m. Average wall steepness 83 °. Pitons driven: Rock chocks: Bolts: Sky hooks: 64/7\ 280/9\ 70\*

Description of the "Flight of the Albatross" route on El Capitan wall in Yosemite National Park, category of difficulty 6B, climbed by Russian alpinists in 2000.

Passport Class of rock climbing ascents. Sierra Nevada Mountains (Yosemite National Park, California, USA). El Capitan peak, South-East wall (Flight of the Albatross route). Proposed category of complexity 6B cat. sl. Height difference — 970 m, route length — 1150 m (wall), length of sections 5–6 cat. sl. — 1130 m, of which 6 cat. sl. — 470 m, average steepness of the route — 84°. Means used for insurance and I.T.O. (in the denominator): | Rock Hooks | Chocks | Bolts for ITO | Skyhook Used |

Route documentation for El Capitan (USA) via the 10-V wall, complexity category 6B, ascended by Russian climbers in October 2000.

PASSPORT Rock climbing category. Sierra Nevada Mountains (Yosemite National Park, California, USA). El Capitan peak, South-West wall (Atlantic Ocean Wall route). Proposed category of complexity 6B cat. sl. Height difference — 720 m, route length — 1007 m (wall), length of sections 5–6 cat. sl. — 907 m, including 6 cat. sl. — 707 m, average steepness of the route — 91°. Used means for insurance and I. T. O. (in the denominator): rock placements 57+7*/60,

Report on the ascent of Category 6B route on the wall of El Capitan in Yosemite, USA, by a team from the alpine club of Magnitogorsk in 2000.

Passport Rock climbing category. Sierra-Nevada Mountains (Yosemite National Park, California, USA). El Capitan peak, South-West wall (Wyoming Sheep Ranch route). Proposed difficulty category 6B. Height difference — 810 m, route length — 1012 m (wall), length of sections with 5–6 difficulty category — 1012 m, of which 6 category — 906 m, average steepness of the route — 95° Used means for belaying and I.T.O. (in the denominator): | Rock Climbing Hooks | Placement Elements | Bolts for I.T.O. | Sky(cam)-hooks | |:--------------------|:--------------------|:-----------------|:---------------| | 73 / 73 | 433 + 16 / 430 | 31 / 31 | 169 |

Report on the ascent of the "Zodiac" route on the South-East wall of El Capitan in Yosemite, USA, made by Russian climbers in 1999.

Ascent Record Ascent category — technical Ascent area — USA, California, Yosemite National Park El Capitan 2498 m. Southeast wall, "Zodiac" route (2nd Russian ascent) Complexity category — 6 (proposed) VI, 5.11, A3+ American scale. Height difference — 600 m. Length 720 m (16 ropes). Average steepness of the route – 90°. Pitons left on the route:

Ascent record of El Capitan via "Salathe" route, category 6B, in Yosemite, USA, made in May 1997.

Ascent Record Category — Technical. Sierra Nevada, Yosemite Valley, USA. Peak — "El Capitan", "Salathe" route. Proposed — 6B cat. diff. (VI 5.13.A4). Elevation gain: 870 m; length: 1060 m. Length of sections: 5 cat. diff. — 180 m; 6 cat. diff. — 880 m. Average steepness: 86°. Pitons used: rock, nuts, bolt. | 8 | 420 | 36 |

Ascent report of the "Alpindustria" national team climbing El Capitan in Yosemite via the "The Nose" route, category 6B.

Ascent Passport To the summit of El Capitan, made by the team "Alpindustry" (Georgia, Rustavi) at the CIS Alpine Championship Ascent class: rock climbing Ascent region: Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada mountain range, USA Peak, route: El Capitan, via the south wall (route "The Nose") Expected difficulty category: 6B Height difference: 1200 m of which wall part: 1200 m total route length: 1400 m wall part length: 1400 m

Report on the ascent of "The Nose" route on El Capitan in Yosemite, complexity category 6B, climbed by a three-person team in 4 days in May 1996.

Ascent Log Category — technical. Sierra-Nevada, Yosemite Valley (USA) Summit «El Capitan», route «The Nose». Proposed — 6B cat. diff. (according to American classification: VI 5.11 A3). Elevation gain: 870 m; length 1020 m. Length of sections with 5th cat. diff. — 210 m; 6th cat. diff. — 810 m; Average slope: 82°. Pitons driven: rock protection bolts