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James Lucas Sends Difficult El Cap Route

American climber James Lucas, who’s been called the last real dirtbag, has sent Freerider on El Cap 5.12d, 37 pitches.

James Lucas has been attempting Freerider since 2011 and announced on his Instagram that he sent the classic El Cap free route in less than 15 hours. Over the last four years, Lucas has invested 500-plus hours into freeing the route in a day.

Watch Canadians on Freerider

“I achieved a lifetime goal today. I left the ground at 3:15 a.m. and at 6:10 p.m., I stood on the top of El Capitan’s Freerider 5.13a having freed my first El Cap route in a day.

“I’m tired, but really stoked. Thanks to the thousands of climbers who have supported and mentored me over the years.”

A photo posted by James Lucas (@james_lucas) on

Freerider was first climbed in 1998 by the Huber brothers and in 2004, Steph Davis led all of the pitches free and became the second woman to free El Cap.

James Lucas, the dirtbag:

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