The Paper's reporter Zhu Zhe reported comprehensively
Recently, two American ski enthusiasts completed a feat in Yosemite National Park in California - skiing down from a "semi-domed" granite mountain more than 1,000 meters high, successfully challenging the "death steps" without snow on the way, and successfully "landing" in 5 hours.
Dreamers with love
In 1981, Jason Torlano moved with his family to live in a valley near Yosemite National Park. The 5-year-old looked at the "half dome" nearly 5,000 feet (about 1,524 meters) high from the valley, and the pure white snow, determined to ski down from the highest point.
On Feb. 21, in the company of his friend Zach Milligan, 45-year-old Toreno turned his dream into reality.
Jason Torrano (left) with Zach Milligen (right) at the "Half Dome"
Tolano is not a pro, but talented. Another of his best friends, the famous skier JT Holmes, said in an interview: "You might have thought he had a commercial sponsorship and would use some resources, but he just poured out his passion for what he did and was a very purely athletic player."
Tolano had never heard of anyone successfully crossing the "Steps of Death" from the "Half Dome" and then back to the Yosemite Valley.
The "Half Dome" is nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, the northwest side of the mountain is steep at 93 degrees, and along the way there is the "Death Steps", a steep cliff that climbers are scrambling to challenge, and there is no snow cover. The steep northeast side of the mountain, with its cable climbing route, has attracted about a thousand people to the summit every day in recent years, but it is also dangerous.
This time, the two skied along the rock wall from the top of the mountain, carefully adjusting all the way, descending with a rope when encountering the "Death Steps", encountering snowy sections and skiing again, and so on, until they reached the valley at the bottom of the mountain.
Jason Tolano, at sunrise on February 21 at the "Half Dome" fresnobee.com figure
In Yosemite's ski journey, Tolano has created more than two dozen "firsts.". A week before the challenge, he also slid along a new ravine from Taft Point to the Yosemite Valley.
Torano on the Cloud Mountain Jon Blair figure
Tolano, who lives with his wife and children in a small neighborhood near Yosemite, is a rock climber, served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a young man, and worked as a ranger in Yosemite National Park, saving trapped tourists.
He is also a volunteer for the Free Burmarangers, spending several months a year abroad as a medic and helping people escape the war zones of Syria, Iraq and Burma.
Torano says he can't change the world, but can help people, which is very important.
Jason Torrano takes care of the Syrian people and helps them escape the war zone Jason Torlano/fresnobee .com photo
After completing this epic adventure, Torano had little time to talk about achievements, because one of his friends' home was hit by a storm and he ran to help build the roof. Friend Holmes said: "He's the kind of guy who does more than he says." ”
Lots of adventures
Tolano said he had been trying to slide down the "half dome" for the past three years and had spent a lot of time studying the snowfall conditions and routes at the top of the mountain, and finally that morning, he did.
Jason Torrano looked down from the "Half Dome" on Feb. 21. Jason Torlano/fresnobee .com image
His companion Miligan thought he was a rock climber rather than a skier, but no one else was available that day, and Miligan wanted to go on an expedition and came with him. At first he wanted to take a video of his friend skiing, but when he got there, he stepped on his skis too. He felt calm at the top of the mountain and thought it was a good sign.
The "Half Dome" shows Zach Miligan Jason Torlano/fresnobee .com skiing
While at the top of the hill, Miligan slid and suddenly touched a part of the cable that was sticking out, and he began to lose control, and the scene became dangerous. "I clenched my ice axe and didn't die," Millikan described as a moment of horror.
Zach Milligen in the bottom left corner during the challenge
Their slides are narrow, icy and dangerous. Stepping too far in either direction means falling hundreds of feet and killing you outright.
Luckily, Millikan was on hold. And when Torrano slid past, he made a video. In a dangerous place, Torrano "stood perfectly like a crane". Torano managed to cross the wires that were blocking the way, going back and forth, each step steady. "It's a superhuman balancing skill," Millikan said of his friends.
Tolano then performed a big jump to conquer the "half dome", while Millikan slid down sideways, the ski always in the direction of the mountain.
Millikan made no secret of his admiration for his friend, saying, "I was just trying to save my life, and he had a great time there... It's nice to see him so relaxed, he's a natural skier. ”
The two-man challenge line Jason Torlano/fresnobee .com figure
When they reached the bottom of the dome, they were elated. Miligan said: "Actually, the 'Death Steps' still have a long way to go." The ropes they used to climb the "Death Steps" were terrible, and the descent became both uncomfortable and terrifying.
"Steps to Death", steps by step Jason Torlano/fresnobee.com image
It took about 5 hours before they reached Mirror Lake.
Tolano sat alone by the lake for a few minutes, trying to document what had just been achieved, "I can't believe we've accomplished this task".
Solve the puzzle
Snowboarder Jim Zellers tried to ski down from the "half dome" in 2000, but did not follow the line and did not ski the full distance. Zelles said it would be too difficult to assess the snowfall at the Semi-Dome. He had tried to ask the rangers for lessons, and the answer was, "Don't go near it."
In Zelles' experience, skiing or snowboarding in the "half dome" should not be considered for most people. This required years of training and a close-up study of the dome and snow conditions on site. Zellers said from the bottom of his heart, "You have to make a lot of effort, judge the situation yourself, and have scientific understanding." ”
In early February, a snowstorm hit Yosemite National Park, and the snow on the summit of the "Half Dome" reached 7.6 centimeters. Tolano chartered a small plane on the 19th to inspect the snow in the "half dome" and made a decision, which was finally successful.
Skier Jeffrey Holmes called Tolano "one of the most 'hardcore' skiers I know." He noted that Torano's challenge required a high degree of dedication and passion, and that "the whole process was full of thorns."
Torrano Jason Torlano/fresnobee after completing the challenge .com image
"I think people should take Tolano's life and his historic initiatives as inspiration to keep breaking new ground and achieving their goals," Holmes said, "Tolano is the kind of person who doesn't waste his years, and he strives to achieve the goals he loves every day."
Editor-in-Charge: Ying Xu
Proofreader: Shi Gong