Sorkin Climbs the West Face of Leaning Tower

Madeleine Sorkin has recently become the third woman to free climb the West Face of The Leaning Tower in Yosemite Valley. The 350 meter long route first climbed in 1961 by Warren Harding was only freed in 2001 by Leo Houlding and Jason Pickles. Prior to Sorkin the only other two women to climb the route were Lynn Hill and Katie Brown.

As a trad climb with sustained 5.12 climbing on much of the route and a crux of 5.13a (7c/8a) the West Face of The Leaning Tower represents a serious and sustained undertaking. Sorkin fell on the last 5.12 pitch of the route and had to repeat it to get her free ascent which puts her right up there with the best female trad climbers in the world.

To read more about this ascent visit www.rockandice.com

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