Climbers Push To Finish Most Difficult Free Climb In The World At Yosemite

El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif., is seen Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004. A fierce early blizzard caught visitors throughout the Central Sierra off-guard, claiming the lives of the two who were climbing El Capit... El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif., is seen Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004. A fierce early blizzard caught visitors throughout the Central Sierra off-guard, claiming the lives of the two who were climbing El Capitan and stranding several backpackers in the area. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) MORE LESS
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One of two climbers attempting a grueling ascent up a half-mile of sheer granite in California’s Yosemite National Park is making a push to catch up with his partner.

Thirty-year-old Kevin Jorgeson has been behind 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell for about a week as they try to scale El Capitan’s Dawn Wall.

A spokeswoman says Jorgeson will try Monday to catch up with Caldwell at a rare ledge.

From there, it will be a push to the 3,000-foot summit, possibly by midweek.

On Friday, Jorgeson got past one of the most difficult stretches after days of failed attempts and waiting.

The climbers are two weeks into what is billed as the first free climb of Dawn Wall.

Free climb means the men only use ropes to prevent deadly falls.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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