Digital Stoke Media’s series Tales from the Steep is a series of stories told by the world’s greatest climbers.

Kevin Jorgeson, who partnered with Tommy Caldwell in completing the first free climb of the Dawn Wall on El Cap, tells a story from his younger years heading up Half Dome. The story doesn’t go the direction you expect!

Topo called for a #4 Camalot. I was adamant. I didn’t want to carry a #4 all the way up the wall just for one pitch.

– Kevin Jorgeson