Yosemite free climbers reach summit of El Capitan in groundbreaking feat

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- Two climbers have become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale the nearly vertical Dawn Wall of Yosemite's El Capitan.

Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, California, and Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park, Colorado reached the top of the summit Wednesday afternoon.

The men free-climbed to the 3,000-foot (914-meter) summit. They used no climbing equipment, just ropes and harnesses to prevent deadly falls.

The world had been watching the pair's grueling half-mile journey up the peak's Dawn Wall route since Dec. 27.

The effort took 19 days, as the two dealt with constant falls and injuries. The climbers slept in hanging tents attached to the wall, even braving a windstorm.

They endured physical punishment when their grip would slip, sending them into tumbles that left them bouncing off the rock face. Their fingers were shredded by razor sharp fragments of rock. Both men needed to rest days to wait for their skin to heal.

Caldwell finished the climb first Wednesday afternoon. Jorgeson caught up minutes later.

The two embraced before Jorgeson pumped his arms in the air and clapped his hands above his head. They then sat down for a few minutes, gathered their gear, changed their clothes and hiked to the summit.

Their success completes a years-long dream that bordered on obsession for the men.

"He's finally reached his dream. This is something that he never thought would happen," said Caldwell's mom.

Spokeswoman Jess Clayton says the men plan to discuss the climb Thursday.

President Barack Obama congratulated the pair on Twitter.