Weekend Whipper: Jacob Cook Rides El Niño (5.13c), El Cap
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Jacob Cook goes for a ride on El Niño (5.13c), El Cap, Yosemite. This was his first try of the first “hard” pitch—a wet 5.13a.
“Was buzzing for a while after that one!” he posted on Facebook, “…can’t wait to try again!!!”
El Niño, established by the Huber brothers Alex and Thomas in 1998, is one of El Cap’s hardest free routes. Cook and his climbing partner Robbie Phillips—who
also took a huge fall on this pitch—are currently attempting a free ascent.
“We’re gonna go for a push on Monday so long as the weather is good,” Phillips says.
Follow their progress on their Facebook athlete pages Robbie Phillips and Jacob Cook.