07/12/2026
How many rock stars can you count on the face of El Capitan?
Those who explore Yosemite Valley around dusk might see a set of stars significantly lower in the night sky, moving across the face of El Capitan. Those little lights aren’t stars, but climbers settling in for the night after a long day of rock climbing.
Climbing to the top of El Capitan can take 3 to 5 days on average but can take up to a month on more difficult routes. On this vertical backpacking trip, many climbers will spend the day ascending a rock face that is 3 times the height of the Eiffel Tower. Come evening, they will use the world’s largest exposed granite face as their own sky-high campsite. If a cozy ledge isn’t available, they’ll set up a portaledge— a portable platform that hangs off the side of the cliff. Imagine having a dream where you feel like you’re falling from a bed thousands of feet up in the air!
The twinkles you see from below are the climber’s headlamps as they set up camp, their efforts and progress rewarded with a good meal and a one-of-a-kind view of Yosemite Valley amongst the stars.
