0:00:02 > 0:00:04'You ready?'
0:00:16 > 0:00:18BIRD SCREECHES
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Hello. I'm Ella, and right now,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25I don't know how the rest of my life is going to pan out.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28I guess it could go one of two ways - up...
0:00:28 > 0:00:30or a very long way down.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38I'm attempting to climb one of the world's biggest rock faces.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41It's called El Capitan, or El Cap for short.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43It's in the USA.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49It's nearly a kilometre high, which probably doesn't sound like much,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52but that's six London Eyes stacked on top of each other.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58In the climbing world, this is one of the toughest challenges there is.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00I kind of underestimated how big it was.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It's much bigger when you come to this angle.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Many experienced climbers never make it to the top,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10but if I manage it, I'll be the youngest girl ever to do it.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18'I'm 13. I live here in Sheffield with my family.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22'I split my time between my mum's house and here at my dad's flat.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27'That's my brother, Ewan, my stepmum, Karen, and my dad.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28'He's a famous climber.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31'He travels all over the world to climb the biggest,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34'scariest rock faces he can find.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35'I've grown up with his love for it,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39'and I guess that's where it all began.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45'My friends all think I'm a bit mad for liking climbing so much.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48'But my head for heights does come in handy sometimes.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50'We all go cheerleading together
0:01:50 > 0:01:53'and I'm the one who gets to go flying through the air.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58'Actually, everyone in my dad's family is nuts about climbing.'
0:01:58 > 0:02:00This is, like, the living room,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04where things happen like sitting and playing.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06THEY GIGGLE
0:02:07 > 0:02:08That was Ewan trying to act cool.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11This is the climbing bedroom. Ooh, that was on!
0:02:13 > 0:02:15You can't see in it, but if I...
0:02:15 > 0:02:18You can just see maybe a little bit of it.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Just that tiny bit of my bedroom that...
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Me and Ewan have to sleep in there, you know.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24It's an adventure every night.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28But instead of having a bath, we store our climbing and camping,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31and here we have a fold-up kayak.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34'Dad loves to talk about his climbing adventures.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37'I've heard all his stories over and over again.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42'So, last year, to keep him quiet, I said, "I bet I could do that."
0:02:42 > 0:02:43'At first it was like a joke.'
0:02:43 > 0:02:46"Oh, one day, Ella, you'll come and climb El Cap with me."
0:02:46 > 0:02:48So I was like, "Yeah. Yeah, all right then."
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I thought it was a joke, but then it just all happened so fast
0:02:51 > 0:02:54and it's all happening and I'm... I'm excited about it.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Slightly nervous, but I'm definitely excited for it.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59The reality of climbing a big wall is scary.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01It's SO massive.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05We'll have to spend at least four days and nights living and sleeping
0:03:05 > 0:03:09on the wall, and that's not without its challenges.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'Challenge number one means there's no getting away from my dad.'
0:03:12 > 0:03:15- Oh, he's very smelly! - HE LAUGHS
0:03:15 > 0:03:19He's very smelly, he snores, and I'm sure he moves around.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Hopefully it'll be OK.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I might have to prod him to tell him to stop snoring, but...
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- You're so tired, you'll sleep... - I know, I'll sleep through it.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'Challenge two is even scarier than my smelly dad -
0:03:30 > 0:03:33'getting time off school.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37'And to do that, I need to see my headteacher, Mr Gauge.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39'I have to ask for two whole weeks off school.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42'And guess what? He agreed.'
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Got some books that might help you.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48'There's just one catch though - I still have to do my homework. Ugh!'
0:03:48 > 0:03:53I've got a sheet here, and on the top it's got two activities.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Activity two is homework.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Just because you're going away, Ella, for a couple of weeks,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01I don't think there's any getting out of your homework.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I think you should make a concerted effort.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I wonder how easy it would be to find
0:04:06 > 0:04:09the volume of this great mountain you're climbing, Ella.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Do you reckon you could do that for us?
0:04:16 > 0:04:19It's probably the first big decisions of my life to say,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22"Yes, I do want to do this and I am going to do this.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25"I'm going to persevere and, like, do it."
0:04:25 > 0:04:30'A big inspiration for me is my stepmum, Karen Darke.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33'She broke her back in a climbing accident when she was 21.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35'And now she uses a wheelchair.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38'But that didn't stop her from climbing El Cap with my dad.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40'She's now a super-talented athlete
0:04:40 > 0:04:44'and competed in the 2012 London Paralympic Games.'
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Come on, Karen! Up, up, up, up, up!
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Whoo!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51'She won a silver medal...
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'and I got a bit emotional.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55'Karen conquered her own personal mountain,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58'so what advice can she give me before I head off to conquer mine?'
0:04:58 > 0:05:00I think, just like racing,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02instead of thinking of getting to the top all the time
0:05:02 > 0:05:05or looking down and thinking how far up you are, you've just got to
0:05:05 > 0:05:09think about every little thing you've got to do in the moment.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10And we're off.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15It's an 11-hour plane journey before we touch down in California.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17I've never been to America before,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19although I did once watch an episode of Friends!
0:05:24 > 0:05:27This place is WAY bigger than Sheffield.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28- BOTH:- Whoo-hoo!
0:05:28 > 0:05:32El Cap is still four hours away by car.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Only one thing for it - road trip.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51'Finally, we're in Yosemite National Park.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54'And I get my first glimpse of what I'm going to be climbing.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56'O...M...G.'
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Is that it? Whoa, that's big.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- I expect you feel...- Small.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07HE LAUGHS You are quite small, though.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Yosemite is a huge valley,
0:06:14 > 0:06:19and its steep granite rocks are a climber's idea of paradise.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- WHISPERS:- I reckon it's anyone's idea of paradise!
0:06:27 > 0:06:28Yeah!
0:06:43 > 0:06:45'Dad and I won't be climbing alone.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48'Because I've never tried anything like this before,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50'it would be too dangerous.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53'So we have an expert team to help get us to the top.'
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Aldo Kane, safety climber.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57'Hairy bloke.'
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Ben Pritchard, cameraman.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01'Another hairy bloke.'
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Paul Tattersall, lead climber.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05'And another hairy bloke.'
0:07:05 > 0:07:06ALL: Yeah!
0:07:08 > 0:07:09'So I'm the only girl.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14'To most people, this looks like a cliff.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18'But in the climbing world, we call it a wall.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21'Before we can climb, there's a lot of stuff to do.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'Everyone is super-busy sorting out equipment, food and water.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26'Loads of it!'
0:07:26 > 0:07:31So here we have 24 bottles of three-litre water, which is, like,
0:07:31 > 0:07:3370-odd litres,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36so, like, 70-something kilograms.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38That's going to be fun to carry up(!)
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'Climbing a big wall is a bit like taking a trip to the moon.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44'We take everything we need to survive,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46'like food, water and clothes.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48'Haul bags are used to carry it all.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50'They are pulled up on a rope behind us,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54'and when full, they will weigh even more than me.'
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I think she's not as heavy as the bag will be,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00carrying all the water up and all the food and everything,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02but, er, she's better company.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09'Carrying all our food means we need to think carefully
0:08:09 > 0:08:12'about what we're going to eat and buy just the right amount.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15'There will be no fancy meals when we're up there.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'So it's just the basics.'
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Oreos.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- What's this?- Squeezy cheese. - Weighs a ton!
0:08:22 > 0:08:23No, it doesn't.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26The main thing you need is lots of liquid.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You can survive for a week without much food,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32but if you're out of liquid, that's the worst thing.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Froot Loops.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- What's this?!- They're Froot Loops.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Put them back, you're not having those.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Pop-Tarts! You know I love Pop-Tarts!- Pop-Tarts?
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Ella, you can't have Pop-Tarts. Ella, put them back.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Dad, biscuits!
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Pot Noodle, Pot Noodle, Pot Noodle! Pringles.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59'I'm making loads of brilliant suggestions,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03'but my dad has weird ideas about eating cold food out of a tin.'
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Ella, this is what you want.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08This is stew in a tin. You just eat it cold.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24'We'll be climbing as soon as the sun comes up tomorrow,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26'so I'm taking one last look
0:09:26 > 0:09:29'at where I'll be spending the next four days.'
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I kind of underestimated how big it was.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35It's much bigger when you come to this angle.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Well, the main reason I'm climbing is cos not many people do it.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40It's kind of an individual thing.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44You do everything for yourself. It's like no-one can help you.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46It's just you and the wall.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I don't really feel scared, like, outside, but I had a dream...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I don't even think it was a dream, I just woke up,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55and just felt really anxious. and it was just really scary.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I got a little... I was just really worried about food and stuff,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02because we've obviously just bought food, so, I don't know,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05not having enough food and then getting stuck or something.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09But, yeah, it kind of knocked me a little bit.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10I was, like...
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I wasn't as confident then.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17If there's anything that I'm thinking about the wall the most,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19it's probably going to the toilet.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I'm still so nervous about that, it's, like, the main thing.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24So I just don't want to go.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28I'll have to hold it in all the way to the top and then I'll just burst.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Today's the day.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41It's boiling hot, and loads of people have decided not to climb
0:10:41 > 0:10:42because of the heat.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44But...we're going for it.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Well, the height's obviously much bigger from here,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50cos you can just see it and it's kind of like...
0:10:50 > 0:10:54It shows you how big it is compared to in the valley.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It is bigger from here, definitely.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01'And this is how we'll do it.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04'Super-climbers Paul and Aldo lead climb up the route,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08'using the friction from their hands and feet to move up the rock,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12'and pulling on bits of equipment that they wedge into cracks.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14'They fix a rope to the wall,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16'which is what I'm going to use to climb up.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21'Here I go!'
0:11:26 > 0:11:28This is kind of make-or-break time.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30If she struggles on the first little bit,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34then it doesn't bode well for the rest of it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37It's usually the worst bit, cos you have to dumar such a long way.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44'It's a long way up, and after years of dreaming,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48'months of planning and weeks of waiting, I'm finally on the wall.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56'The technique I'm using to climb the wall is called dumaring.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01'Basically, I push myself up with my feet using this foot loop.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03'I slide this clip up the rope,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06'it locks on, and it won't slide back down again.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09'To get to the top, I'll just have to do this about, mm...
0:12:09 > 0:12:10'4,000 times.'
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Ugh!
0:12:17 > 0:12:18The rope is 70 metres long,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20so the climb is split into rope lengths,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23or pitches, as climbers call them.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26At the end of each rope length, there's a place called a belay,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30where climbers before us have drilled metal bolts into the rock.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33We clip ourselves in to rest or camp overnight.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37There are 14 pitches on my route up El Cap.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Need to grab my cow's tail.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48'And I've done my first pitch. Only 13 to go.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52'It's only eight in the morning, but it's already boiling.'
0:12:52 > 0:12:54- SHE SIGHS - Need to put some suncream on.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59'Dad is the last member of the team to make it off the ground.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01'The whole team is now climbing.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03'The only way is up.'
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- Yeah! - SHE LAUGHS
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I'm a little bit scared about dropping things.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I haven't got my iPod out yet cos it's not attached to anything,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30so I'm scared I'm going to drop it, and I don't want to drop it.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32My shoelaces are coming undone as well,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34so I'll probably end up dropping my shoes.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I should really do them up.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41'When we reach the top of a pitch, Dad has to haul up all the bags
0:13:41 > 0:13:44'with everything we need to survive on the wall.'
0:13:44 > 0:13:47So we've got five people's stuff and lots of water,
0:13:47 > 0:13:52so hauling is turning into a bit of a day-long nightmare.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56'We can only climb as fast as Dad can pull the kit up.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57'It's really heavy,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59'and it's taking longer than we expected,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01'so there's a bit of waiting around.'
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I've conquered one of my fears, or my main fear.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08I had my first wee on the big wall.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10That was weird.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12BEN: Pee on your dad?
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I peed on my dad, yeah.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It's the end of a long day of climbing,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22and with the hauling slowing us down
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and temperatures hitting nearly 40 degrees on the rock,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28we haven't got as far as we wanted.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29Eventually.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37'I'm exhausted. I can't wait to go to sleep.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42'So right here, 150 metres above the ground, is my bedroom for the night.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48'The only thing between me and the rocks below is a tiny portaledge -
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'a lightweight metal frame that's a bit like a camp bed.'
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- SHE YAWNS - I'm glad to be on the portaledge.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56This is the first time you've ever slept on one.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58It's the first time I've ever slept on one, obviously,
0:14:58 > 0:14:59as Dad just pointed out.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05'At this height, you really wouldn't want anything to go wrong.'
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- CRASHING - Oh!
0:15:11 > 0:15:15'Because of a rope tangle below, my portaledge has become unstable.'
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- Move your feet.- I am. Right, can you lift it up a bit?
0:15:19 > 0:15:23It's fine. I'll just wait until I sort out these stupid straps.
0:15:25 > 0:15:26Agh!
0:15:28 > 0:15:29..I'll do it.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35'Luckily, I'm roped into the wall, as I always am.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37'Dad sorts out the problem.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42'But that's one bedtime I won't be forgetting in a hurry.'
0:15:46 > 0:15:48- BIRDS CALL - 'I'm awake at the crack of dawn.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51'I don't think I've ever seen dawn before.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53'But after last night's portaledge incident,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56'I'm just happy to be here.'
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Time for school.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59No, it's not.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02MUSIC: "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye ft. Kimbra
0:16:02 > 0:16:06'When you're climbing big walls, you have to get used to early starts.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12'I am trying, but it's just gone 7.30am, and it's hot already.'
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Oh, I'm not enjoying this.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16'It isn't just a sheer wall I'm climbing.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20'The whole wall overhangs, which means, sometimes,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22'I'm just floating in space.'
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It's too early in the morning to be doing th...
0:16:25 > 0:16:29'The hotter it is, the more water we have to drink,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32'and we have a limited supply of water.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34'Running out would be really dangerous.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36'And that isn't the only danger.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38'Loose rocks can fall off the wall,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41'so I wear a helmet when I'm climbing.'
0:16:41 > 0:16:44I think it's at times like this when you start thinking,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47"Was it a good idea?" really, but she'll get up this bit.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50It just might take longer than you'd like, really.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53You're doing well, Ella. Are you OK?
0:16:53 > 0:16:56- Mm-hmm! - Have you still got a sense of humour?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05'I've finished the second pitch of the day,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07'but Dad's having some problems.'
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Dad, you've really tangled the rope.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12'He's somehow managed to twist his rope
0:17:12 > 0:17:14'around the bags he's pulling up,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18'and, if he doesn't untangle it we're going to grind to a halt.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21'To fix it, he has to swing out and around.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22'Rather him than me.'
0:17:30 > 0:17:31Whoo!
0:17:41 > 0:17:43'The heat is unreal.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47'The rock is like a radiator, and there's no shade on this wall,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49'but I have to keep climbing.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:51A-whoo-hoo.
0:17:51 > 0:17:52Well, this is fun(!)
0:17:54 > 0:17:55Yeah.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58'Dad's not the only one to get his ropes tangled.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00'Now I've got mine tangled too.'
0:18:00 > 0:18:01This is really hurting.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Is that the strap round your neck?
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Yeah, it's really digging in.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09'A tangled rope can cause injury,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12'but mostly they just slow you down until you sort it out,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16'and, at this height, the only one who can sort it out is me.'
0:18:16 > 0:18:18So annoying.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Everything's tangled, and ugh...
0:18:21 > 0:18:25and I'm pulling things and they're not doing anything. So annoying.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Whoops.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Aah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Good job you're not scared of heights, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- Do you think being scared of heights is genetic?- Maybe.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49'We haven't yet reached our planned camp for the night.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53'The whole team is exhausted, but we have to keep climbing.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57'I don't mind so much - it's much cooler at night.'
0:19:00 > 0:19:03# Your walls are up
0:19:04 > 0:19:07# Too cold to touch, yeah
0:19:07 > 0:19:12# Your walls are up, are up
0:19:12 > 0:19:15# Too high to climb... #
0:19:15 > 0:19:18So we've done what we usually try to avoid doing,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21is hauling your bags up and setting off in the dark,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25but...it was kind of, we had to push it a little bit to get to the top.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26Go.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Think of it as motivation.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29We'll do 20.
0:19:29 > 0:19:313, 2, 1, go.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35'Throughout the day on the wall we just eat snacks,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37'but at night we have our meal,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39'and tonight Paul and Aldo were the chefs.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42'On the menu is a wrap with tuna and cream cheese
0:19:42 > 0:19:44'and some curry couscous.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46'It may seem like an odd combination
0:19:46 > 0:19:50'but when it's your only meal of the day, it goes down well.'
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Ow, got indigestion from eating too fast.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Thank you, Paul and Aldo, you made my day.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13# Holiday, oh, holiday The best one of the year... #
0:20:14 > 0:20:18'I'm really starting to struggle with these early-morning starts.'
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Harder getting up this morning.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26She's very...
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Really quite tired, so we had to like feed her bagels in bed.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34But she's waking up now, we've had some music on.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39'It's day three of the climb and we are now too far up to go back down.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42'We have to make it to the top.'
0:20:42 > 0:20:47Yeah, big wall climbing just seems to be a lot of work, really hard.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51But, hey, if it was easy, everyone would be up here.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56'And we only have two days' water left, so there's no time to waste.'
0:20:56 > 0:20:59We've got to get up as many pitches as we can.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We've got eight climbing pitches.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04The last one's a big, long scramble.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I'm spraying everyone because everyone smells.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11And it's not nice.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18'These have been the most exhausting days of my life.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21'I'm doing 1,000 pull-ups a day,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23'I'm burning more calories than I'm eating,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25'and I'm not getting enough sleep.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28'But we can't fall behind schedule.'
0:21:28 > 0:21:31So I feel really, really, really tired...
0:21:31 > 0:21:34SHE YAWNS
0:21:34 > 0:21:37..and try and sort of sleep but um...
0:21:39 > 0:21:43..I think on a scale of nought to ten, I'm definitely ten,
0:21:43 > 0:21:44I'm like so tired.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50- Ella, I had a bit of an emotional moment yesterday.- Did you?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- You know when you were dumaring up? - Mm-hmm.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Didn't want to put your new chest harness on
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- because you were complaining? - Mm-hmm.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00I was like really... I was really amazed how tough you are.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Doing well, Ella.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It's harder than it looks, seriously.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24'At times like this, the thing that keeps me going
0:22:24 > 0:22:27'is the thought of my friends rooting for me back home.'
0:22:27 > 0:22:31I've not seen that picture. Wow.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I would really love to do this, but I probably won't.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36I'm really scared of it.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39She'd been practising like every day.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41For ages we would go to the park and she couldn't come
0:22:41 > 0:22:44so I'm sure she's pretty good at it now, like really good at climbing.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Aw, Ella.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48One more pitch in, yeah?
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Yeah, I'm not letting you haul me up, that's just pathetic.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02I had a mini emotional moment when I was like really sad,
0:23:02 > 0:23:07because I dropped my iPod, which was sad.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09It's been a really hard day.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13It's not that it's tiring, but everything rubs and everything hurts
0:23:13 > 0:23:17and so your leg loops are rubbing and your ankle things are rubbing,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21and your...chest thing's rubbing on your neck and your...
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Everything's rubbing, your trousers are falling down,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28your sleeves are getting in the way and your helmet's itchy,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and so's your hair and your back and your knees.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Your knee pads are all sweaty so you have sweaty...
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Ugh, it's just horrible. It's not nice.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40It may look easy, but it's really not. It's horrible.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47'It's day number four, and hopefully the last.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51'There's no sign of it being any cooler, and we're close to the top,
0:23:51 > 0:23:55'but it will still take a full day of tough climbing to make it.'
0:23:55 > 0:23:58So you've got two more pitches to go. Have you got it in you?
0:23:58 > 0:23:59- Yeah.- Really?- Yeah.- Really?- Yeah.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06'I'm really sore and this is one of the longest pitches of the climb.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10'I'll try anything to take my mind off all my aches and pains.'
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Right, could we play a game then? - Yeah, go on.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- A word association game. Right, you say a word.- Yeah.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18And I say a word and every time I say a word
0:24:18 > 0:24:19- I have to jug up one thing.- Er...
0:24:19 > 0:24:22You can't repeat the word.
0:24:22 > 0:24:23Atlantis.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Film.
0:24:31 > 0:24:32Star Wars.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Jediism.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36'It's not working!'
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- Ella.- Yeah.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40What are you going to do when you get on the top?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Er...fall asleep.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47- Why don't you sing a song? - I don't want to sing a song.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50# I like to move it, move it I like to move it, move it
0:24:50 > 0:24:55# I like to move it, move it I like to...
0:24:55 > 0:24:56# Move it. #
0:24:56 > 0:24:58'Yeah. Thanks, Dad.'
0:24:58 > 0:25:00What will it take to get you to the top?
0:25:00 > 0:25:02I want some escalators.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04I haven't got one of those.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09'But the end is in sight,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'and after four days and 13 pitches
0:25:12 > 0:25:15'there's only one more rope length between me and success.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17'I've got to make it.'
0:25:21 > 0:25:24It's not very far, size of your house to give up now.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Neee, wake up, come on. We're nearly there, we're nearly there.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- Come on. Come on.- OK.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34When you're at the top, you can have pizzas.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35There's a cafe at the top.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Stop saying that! I knew you were going to say that.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40That's what Grandad says.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44'I know there's no cafe at the top.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46'There's only 70 more metres of climbing
0:25:46 > 0:25:48'until I get to see it for real.'
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Dad, can I free-climb this last pitch?
0:25:51 > 0:25:53You couldn't talk a few seconds ago!
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Where have you got the energy from?
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Well, no, cos dumaring takes more effort.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01OK, I'll belay you up, over.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05'So far, I've done over 3,500 pull ups
0:26:05 > 0:26:08'and my arms are really hurting from all the effort.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11'But I really want to try and finish as strongly as I can.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14'I'm going to attempt to free-climb this last pitch.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18'This means using just my hands and feet to scale the rock.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22'I'm still clipped into Dad via the rope, just in case.'
0:26:22 > 0:26:25# Cos baby, you're a firework
0:26:25 > 0:26:30# Come on, show 'em what you're worth
0:26:30 > 0:26:33# Make 'em go "Ah, ah, ah"
0:26:33 > 0:26:37# As you shoot across the sky... #
0:26:38 > 0:26:40'It has been epic!
0:26:40 > 0:26:45'It's been worth every amazing view and every tangled rope,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48'every early morning and every late night,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51'every pull-up and every scraped knee.'
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Ugh.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Come along, it's like climbing on the edge of the world.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59'At the start of this journey,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02'I didn't know which way things would work out.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07'But now I do, because I'm about to make it to the top of El Capitan.'
0:27:07 > 0:27:11# Cos, baby, you're a firework
0:27:11 > 0:27:15# Come on, show 'em what you're worth... #
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Remind me never to do that again with any other of my children.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Ella was fantastic on the wall. Really good.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24I mean, I'm struggling at 34 to get up there
0:27:24 > 0:27:26but Ella seemed to take it all in her stride
0:27:26 > 0:27:28so I don't know if that's the start of things to come.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I never really actually thought about us actually getting to the top.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I just thought about us trying to do it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Um...it always seems like so far away getting to the top
0:27:36 > 0:27:38and then all of a sudden you're there.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Give me five.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Ow!
0:27:41 > 0:27:43'I'm Ella.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46'I'm 13 years, ten months and eight days old
0:27:46 > 0:27:49'and I'm now the youngest girl ever to climb El Capitan.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52'Oh, yeah. Thanks, Dad.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:55# Cos, baby, you're a firework
0:27:55 > 0:27:59# Come on, show 'em what you're worth
0:27:59 > 0:28:02# Make 'em go "Ah, ah, ah"
0:28:02 > 0:28:06# As you shoot across the sky... #
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd