John Bachar Free-Soloing 5.12a in Joshua Tree
He was one of America's most cutting-edge climbers at the peak of his climbing in the 1980s
A vintage film of John Bachar free-soloing Joshua Tree’s Leave it to Beaver 5.12a. The first ascent was by Dave Evans and Jim Angione in January 1978 and freed by Bachar in March of the same year on top-rope. Bachar led the route the following year before free-soloing it.
Bachar was one of America’s top climbers whose uncompromising ground-up ascents and legendary solos redefined bold traditional climbing. In 1981, he posted a note promising a “$10,000 reward for anyone who can follow me for one full day,” but nobody took the challenge. Later that year, he put up The Bachar-Yerian, a 91-metre 5.11cR/X in Tuolumne Meadows with Dave Yerian.
Among his many other accomplishments, in 1986, Bachar and Peter Croft made a link up of El Capitan and Half Dome in 14 hours. Bachar died in 2009 while free-soloing in California.
Leave it to Beaver 5.12a
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