At Home With LYNN HILL: Greatest Climber Of All Time

She rewrote the definition of what was possible in climbing in 1993, when she was the first person - man or woman - to free climb The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite - the most iconic big wall in the world.

When asked who my dream collaboration would be on the Hannah Morris Bouldering channel, Lynn Hill’s name has always been right at the top of the list.

I never thought I’d get the opportunity to climb with her on her home wall in Boulder, Colorado, until in late September last year - thank you so much to @roapcoaching917 for making it happen.

Climbing on a homemade replica of the iconic climb in her backyard, @LynnHillClimbing told stories of near death experiences, free falling 70 feet in a climbing accident, and shared personal insights into her achievements, which go well beyond climbing the nose. Thank you so much to Lynn for showing us around your home wall, and for sharing your stories.

00:00 Meet Lynn Hill: Living Legend of Climbing
01:40 First Free Ascent of The Nose, El Capitan
04:03 Trying Changing Corners, The Infamous Crux Pitch
07:18 "It Goes Boys"
08:00 Changing Climbing History: The Significance of Lynn's Ascent
10:00 Free Climbing The Nose In A Day
11:45 Free Mini-Course On Falling With Hazel Findlay
13:30 Lynn’s 80ft Fall and Climbing Risks
18:00 How Lynn Hill Trained for Climbing
19:00 Pockets Climb On Wooden Board
20:35 Lynn’s Homemade Climbing Holds
21:25 What Do You Think of Olympics Climbing?
22:00 Projects With Sasha DiGuilian
24:50 Chris Sharma, John Bachar and Lynn’s Inspirations

Lynn Hill Climbing on The Nose
Lynn Hill's The Fundamentals of Climbing Course

Our Sponsors
FREE UK Shipping on Mad Rock Shoes with Code HMBFREE
Want to Visit The Climbing Hangar? Get 50% Off Your First Climb with HANNAH50 When You Book Online

Follow Hannah:
Follow Nathan:
Our Patreon:

[ripapa]

"It goes, boys" is THE MOST badass quote in sports. The time, the context, I still get goosebumps. I started climbing in 1994 and was introduced to Lynn Hill through Climbing and Rock & Ice. Still the GOAT in my opinion.

[adventureawaits]

Damn, what a fucking legend. Respect all day.

[SuperJonijo]

6:23
Dont Mind Alex Puccio in the background.

[jaredsartini]

23:53 : The "Introduction to the Fundamentals of Climbing" film Lynn Hill created is incredibly well worth the purchase. Her statement "... a good climber might take one tidbit out of it." is in pure fashion - extremely humble.

I won't be so arrogant to assume I'd fall into Lynn's classification of a "good climber", but I've been climbing for about 12 years now and I can say it is a jam-packed library of technically explained film that's unmatched from anything I've ever seen. I've watched the film 3 times now and I plan to watch it over and over for the rest of my life. I wish I could've watched it early in my climbing days but am stoked it exists now. Incredible project.

[scottcarlson]

Hiking down from Yosemite Falls. A young couple said they were trying Midnight Lightning, but couldn't figure it out. I said watch Lynn's video of climbing it in the 90's. Turned and looked down the trail, saw 2 women coming up. Turned to the guy and said, "or you could ask Lynn, she's right here." Lynn and Nina Caprez going up to do some recon on El Cap. Super nice and definitely one of the GOATS.

[NathanBetts]

Iconic guest. Greatest day 😌

I loved hearing Lynn’s motivations - and especially her opinions on modern climbing, Chris Sharma and the French blow at the end haha.

[kentolmstead]

I had the privilege of hearing Lynn describe her fall shortly after her recovery. We were sitting in Chris Grover's living room in Bend, Oregon with Chris, Lynn, Russ Raffa, and I think one of the other Metolius crew (Brooke maybe) - talking about the possibility of an alternative to Jeff Lowe's early, but ultimately failing competition organizing.

I'd started the first climbing wall company in the US, an iteration of which had built all the panels and holds for the first Snowbird competitions (Dale Bard being super key to that wall actually getting made on time or at all).

While I ultimately bailed on climbing wall entrepreneurship after that first decade, and few would remember me, I have great memories of interacting with a lot of the early greats of that time like Lynn, Alan Watts, Dale Bard, Bachar, Long, Bridwell, Kauk, Todd Skinner, Karn, Franklin, Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou and many others.

I'm 62 now, and enjoying climbing again with kids and grandkids, occasionally finding an old Vertical Concepts hold I carved at the gym, and thinking about Lynn almost everytime I tie in. Long story short - finish tying your knot and repeat the checklist.

Great episode HMB!

[paulgaras]

The queen isn’t dead. Long live the queen.

[radar]

I met Lynn in the New River Gorge in the late 90's. I was half way up a 5.9 trad climb, Jumping Ring Snakes at Butcher Branch, Kaymoor, when a couple of other climbers came in and began talking to my girlfriend and our son. They began gearing up for Lost Souls 5.12 sport route. They were all chatting it up and the climbers were playing with my son while I finished up the route. While topping out at the shuts I spooked a little garder snake and it actually fell to the ground amongst the climbers below... crazy given the name of the route. My girlfriend lowered me to the ground, upon touching down I realized that my family was chatting it up with Lynn Hill! My girlfriend didn't know who she was, as she was a new climber. We hung out and watched Lynn climb Lost Souls, it was the most amazing ascent I've ever seen... smooth, precise and deliberate!

[sarahdell]

She was 100% responsible for me starting to climbing many moons ago, which naturally keeps you making solid life choices to stay healthy to keep climbing.

Thanks Lynn

[markbloyd]

WOW! Best guest you've ever had. I'm 58 and have been awed by Lynn Hill for years. Thank you so much for making this video. I thought it was cool when I got to say hi to Chris Sharma once in passing, but I can't imagine how you must have felt meeting and hanging out with Lynn Hill. What a blessing.

[matthewmehrman]

I met Lynn in 1984 at Wisconsin Devils Lake. Even then, she was amazing and really good humor.

Just a bunch of guys hanging out and Lynn. She taught us all what good style looked like.

[Coffee_Toffee]

wonderful video, Lynn is such an inspiration

[HectorGarcia-sptd]

Fantastic. One of the greatest climbers of all time. Looks like a lovely person too.

[ralitzaraykova]

Lynn Hill is absolutely iconic, and such an inspiration! Thanks for the almost 30min with this legend, Hannah - I was just thinking a couple of days ago how I wanted some fresh content with her. :)

[isaacjamesbaker]

How cool to hang with Lynn!! Seriously one of the only humans where I would not be able to handle my excitement and dorkiness if I met them. Loved this.

[sylviemx]

Thank you so much for this relaxed and insightful conversation with Lynn Hill, who shows how much one can still want to climb in their 60's, and how well one (well - Lynn) cans still climb hard in their 60's ... which is fantastic inspiration for a climber in their 50's such as me!

[moose]

Lynn is amazing and you did a great job with the video/interview as well! Thank you!

[rhettetherington]

Wow! Fantastic video and interview ! What an amazing, inspiring person.
Thank you.

[philandfriendsgoclimbing]

Thank for sharing and thank you Lynn!!