The Zodiac Wall on El Capitan -Part 1

Written by Peder Ourom

Photo of Peder Ourom on the Zodiac Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. 1979.

In 1972, Charlie Porter completed the first solo ascent of the Zodiac Wall in Yosemite Valley, California.  This was the climbing equivalent of a moon landing.

Feeling the need for an even bigger big wall climb, in 1975 he travelled to Baffin Island and climbed Mt. Asgard solo.  He also managed to avoid being eaten by the polar bears that lived in the area.   Charlie was on this 3500’ monster wall for 9 days on the final push, the first route in the world to be graded VII. In the following years he would become an inspirational technical sailor and climate change scientist in his adopted home of Tierra del Fuego. The wild places are where he found himself most at home.