Zenyatta Mondatta Speed Ascent - Cheyne Lempe

On October 3, 2015, Edelweiss athlete Cheyne Lempe joined forces with David Allfrey and Skiy Detray to speed-climb Zenyatta Mondatta (A4, 16 pitches) on El Cap in Yosemite, establishing a new speed record on the route.

The Ideal Big Wall Climbing Kit

We are in the midst of the prime big-wall climbing season in Yosemite. It’s time to gather the gear and head to “The Valley.” Benjamin Eaton, a Liberty Mountain employee and avid rock climber, lays out his big wall kit for a quick close-up.

How to Climb the Yosemite Triple Crown in Under 24 Hours

Edelweiss athlete, Cheyne Lempe recently completed the Yosemite Triple Crown with Dave Allfrey in 22 hours 59 minutes, making them the third pair of climbers to ever complete a one-day linkup of Yosemite’s biggest walls. Photos courtesy of Cheyne Lempe.

Cheyne Lempe Sets New Speed Record In Yosemite

Cheyne Lempe, an Edelweiss USA athlete, sets another speed record in Yosemite.

At the not-so-ripe age of 22, Cheyne Lempe headed off alone to climb the Salathe Wall in a day. The result? Cheyne ended up rope-soloing the wall in 20 hours and 6 minutes; a new solo speed record. In fact, Cheyne is now the second person to have ever rope-soloed the Salathe Wall, and is definitely the youngest.

Photo by Cheyne Lempe. A self portrait on the Salathe Wall.

Shortest Straw Speed Record

The following trip report is from Edelweiss athlete, Cheyne Lempe.

At 4 a.m. my alarm went off... I'm nervously sweating. This climb would be epic blah blah blah.

I’m not going that start his post with a generic starting that sets an eerie mood for my tale of swimming in a sea of granite uncertainty. To be honest, I'm over it. I've climbed more than ten big walls this season, carried way too many haul bags, and don't want to suffer any more.

A Service to El Cap

A gnarled mess of static ropes dangling on the East Ledges descent of Yosemite's El Cap has been a common avenue for those looking to return to the ground from their vertical trek on one of the world's most iconic cliffs.

Edelweiss Athlete Is The Youngest To Solo The Nose In A Day

In 1958, after 47 days, Warren Harding and his team stood on top of Yosemite's El Cap by means of climbing The Nose. This tall and technical route was first thought to be unclimbable, but Harding's team opened a "flood gate" that has now made The Nose to be "The Route of Accomplishment." Many climbers set out to be the first or the fastest to climb The Nose in a certain way.

The Nose is a 31 pitch route on a massive 2,900 foot granite prow and it beacons to be climbed. The first rope-solo climb of The Nose was made by Tom Bauman in 1969. It was Lynn Hill that finally made the first free ascent in 1993, taking her just 4 days to do so. Hill also nabbed the first free ascent in a day in 1994. Even to this day the battle of the male and female speed records continues.

Just recently we received word that one of our Edelweiss Athletes positioned himself as the 9th and youngest person to solo The Nose in a day.

Cheyne Lempe, age 21, spent a total of 19 hours on the route by himself. With a grigri for his solo device, 4 liters of water, and his iPod he rocked his way to the top. Lempe used the 70M Edelweiss Performance 9.2mm rope as he linked the 31 pitches into only 16 pitches.