Climbers Celebrate El Capitan Climb With Hugs, Champagne

— -- Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson had reason to celebrate Wednesday.

The friends became the first to free-climb to the top of the nearly vertical El Capitan's "Dawn Wall" at Yosemite National Park.

Family and friends awaited the climbers at the top of the 3,000-foot rock wall, a journey that took 19 days scaling with their fingertips and feet.

Caldwell reached the summit first, followed minutes later by Jorgeson, who pumped his arm in the air and clapped his hands after reaching the summit. The climbers were welcomed by their partners: Caldwell’s wife and Jorgeson’s girlfriend were waiting with hugs and kisses.

The pair popped bottles of champagne, spraying the bubbly and clinking their bottles in celebration before taking well-deserved swigs.

Caldwell and Jorgeson used no equipment during their climb, just ropes and harnesses to prevent deadly falls.

The pioneering ascent comes after five years of training and failed attempts for both men. They only got about one-third of the way up in 2010 when they were turned back by storms. A year later, Jorgeson fell and broke an ankle in another attempt.

Since then, each has spent time on the rock practicing and mapping out strategy.