Climbers set speed record on Yosemite’s Nose of El Capitan

Two climbers have set a new speed record for ascending the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, one of the world’s most technical and dangerous verticals.

Brad Gobright and climbing partner Jim Reynolds raced up the nearly 90-degree, 2,900-foot precipice in just two hours and 19 minutes on Saturday, reported The San Francisco Chronicle.

The pair, from California, broke the previous record set in 2012 by four minutes.

Brad Gobright (right) and climbing partner Jim Reynolds (left) have set a new speed record for ascending the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, by climbing in just two hours and 19 minutes on Saturday 

To maximize their speed, the pair ditched camming devices meant to prevent falls and whatever weighty gear they could live without. They didn't pack food or water. (Pictured, Reynolds on Saturday)

About two hours in, Gobright (right, on Saturday) said he could feel the smoky air affecting his breathing

To maximize their speed, the pair ditched camming devices meant to prevent falls and most of their weighty gear. They didn’t pack food or water. About two hours in, Gobright (left) said he could feel the smoky air affecting his breathing (Reynolds, right)

‘The big thing that Jim and I were worried about was that to some extent you have to kind of put safety behind you when you’re trying to move that fast,’ Gobright, 29, told the paper. 

‘It requires a lot of focus, much more than a regular climb. Speed climbing requires your full attention.’

More than two dozen people have been killed on El Capitan since 1905. According to Ken Yager, the president and founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association, it typically takes three days to complete the ascent, which sits 7,569 feet above sea level. 

Conditions on Saturday were not ideal, with smoky air and the route crowded with climbers, according to Gobright.   

To maximize their speed, the pair ditched camming devices meant to prevent falls and whatever weighty gear they could live without. They didn’t pack food or water.

About two hours in, Gobright said he could feel the smoke affecting his breathing. His throat was scratchy and his mouth was dry.

More than two dozen people have been killed on El Capitan (pictured) since 1905. According to Ken Yager, the president and founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association, it typically takes three days to complete the ascent, which sits 7,569 feet above sea level

More than two dozen people have been killed on El Capitan (pictured) since 1905. According to Ken Yager, the president and founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association, it typically takes three days to complete the ascent, which sits 7,569 feet above sea level

According to Yager, the pair's strategy for the climb's final stretch is how they broke the record: The duo climbed almost simultaneously, rather than the typical practice of having one climber ascend ahead of the other (Pictured, Reynolds, left, and Gobright) 

According to Yager, the pair’s strategy for the climb’s final stretch is how they broke the record: The duo climbed almost simultaneously, rather than the typical practice of having one climber ascend ahead of the other (Pictured, Reynolds, left, and Gobright) 

According to Yager, the pair’s strategy for the climb’s final stretch is how they broke the record: The duo climbed almost simultaneously, rather than the typical practice of having one climber ascend ahead of the other.

‘If you’ve got two fast people and they can climb together, that’s how you get the fastest time,’ Yager said. 

‘With a standard ascent you’ll have a lot more gear, and you’ll use a lot more of that gear. [Gobright and Reynolds] had about one piece of gear between them and the ground.’

Gobright, who has been climbing since he was seven years old, said he finally realized he could be a contender for the speed record when and Reynolds (pictured) climbed the nose a year and a half ago

Gobright, who has been climbing since he was seven years old, said he finally realized he could be a contender for the speed record when and Reynolds (pictured) climbed the nose a year and a half ago

Gobright said that when he and his partner reached the top, their family and friends were cheering them from the ground below. Five minutes later he received a text message from the previous record holder, Hans Florine. He was sending his congratulations (Pictured, Reynolds)

Gobright said that when he and his partner reached the top, their family and friends were cheering them from the ground below. Five minutes later he received a text message from the previous record holder, Hans Florine. He was sending his congratulations (Pictured, Reynolds)

Gobright said that when he and his partner reached the top, their family and friends were cheering them from the ground below. Five minutes later he received a text message from the previous record holder, Hans Florine. He was sending his congratulations.

Florine and Alex Honnold climbed the Nose route in two hours and 23 minutes in June 2012. Florine has set eight speed records for his climbs up the Nose since 1990.

Gobright, who has been climbing since he was seven years old, said he finally realized he could be a contender for the speed record when and Reynolds climbed the nose a year and a half ago. 

‘Before Jim and I were trying to go for the record, we’d just do it fast so we’d have time to do more climbs before the sun went down,’ he said. 

‘Thinking we could try for the record seemed crazy at first. It was this really big, big goal that seemed kind of out of reach. I think that’s why we wanted to do it.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk