Stunning New Film on Dawn Wall

Peek into the world of Belgian climber Siebe Vanhee’s authentic, raw process of his first season climbing on Yosemite’s hardest big wall. The infamous Dawn Wall proves to be a challenge in more ways than one.

Darkest before Dawn by Alex Eggermont combines genuine storytelling with a cinematic approach bringing together a story beyond just the climbing. The film encapsulates the beauty of the body’s language when hanging from it’s fingertips thousands of feet off the ground.

Dawn Wall was first climbed by Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson in 2016 and repeated by Adam Ondra in 2016. Together with partner Pavel Blazek, who jumared fixed ropes and belayed, Ondra shaved over 10 days off Caldwell and Jorgeson’s 19-day first free ascent. Caldwell and Jorgeson both freed every pitch on their ascent, some pitches on different days, but neither led every pitch. Ondra was the first to lead and send every pitch.

Dawn Wall Attempt