Todd Skinner

Todd Richard Skinner (October 27, 1958 – October 23, 2006) was an American free climber. His climbing achievements included the first free ascents of many routes around the world and the world's first free ascent of a grade 7 climb.

Contents

• Todd Skinner Memorial Video
• The power of positive thinking a tribute to todd skinner
• First free ascents
• References

Skinner was born in Pinedale, Wyoming, and planned to "take a little while off to climb" after gaining a degree in finance from the University of Wyoming in 1982. Instead, he became a full-time free climber and motivational speaker. In 1990, he settled in Lander, Wyoming, in part because he considered the dolomite cliffs there to be the ultimate training ground for free climbing. He opened the Wild Iris Mountain Sports store in Lander, and encouraged visits by climbers from around the world. He was married with three children.

Todd Skinner completed a new route up the face of Leaning Tower in Yosemite National Park on October 23, 2006. While rappelling down, he fell 500 feet and died. The cause of death was the failure of the belay loop of his climbing harness. Jim Hewett, a friend of Skinner, had previously observed that the harness appeared worn.

First free ascents

1985: The Gunfighter (5.13b), Hueco Tanks, Texas, United States

1986: City Park (5.13b), Lower Index Town Wall, Washington, United States

1988: The Salathe Wall (VI 5.13b), El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

1989: Lizzy Beams Desire (5.14a), Black Hills, South Dakota, United States

1990: The Jaded Lady (VI 5.12a), North face of Mt. Hooker, Wind River Range, Wyoming. With Paul Piana, Galen Rowell and Tim Toula.

1992: The Great Canadian Knife (VI 5.13b), Cirque of the Unclimbables, Yukon Territories, Canada

1993: Northwest Direct Route (VI 5.13d) on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

1995: Cowboy Direct (VII 5.13a) East Face of Trango Tower, Pakistan's Karakoram Himalayas (the first Grade 7 free climb in the world).

1998: War and Poetry (VI 5.12c), Ulamertorsuaq, Cape Farewell, of Greenland

2000: True at First Light (VI 5.13a), East Face of Poi, Ndoto Mountains, Northern Kenya

2004: Wet Lycra Nightmare (V 5.13d), Leaning Tower, Yosemite, California, United States