Clinic Description
Big wall climbing is all about systems. Anchors, hauling, changing leads, setting up a portaledge, anchor architecture, planning, packing a haul bag, and lowering out a haul bag are all critical systems to have figured out before you head up. We will discuss moving up in our aiders as well as cleaning straight up and diagonal pitches.

Please bring a pencil and paper to take notes, and a camera to photograph the systems.

About Mark Hudon:

Mark has been climbing for more than 50 years. He first climbed El Cap in 1974 and has made several ascents since. Mark and Max Jones were the first climbers to attempt to free climb El Cap in 1979. They free climbed all but 300 feet of the Salathe Wall, breaking the paradigms of the day and setting the stage for future free El Cap ascents. In 1978, Mark climbed the second ascent of the first 5.13 in the US, the Phoenix in Yosemite Valley.

After a bit of a hiatus from climbing, Mark came roaring back in 2009, leading the Nose in 15 hours at the age of 53. Since then, Mark has climbed El Cap 28 times. His nearly free ascent of Freerider in 2019 was featured in the film “Free As Can Be”. Mark’s deep knowledge of wall climbing, coupled with his ability and enthusiasm for explaining it, makes his clinics informative and a treat for anyone attending.

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