Silvia Vidal facts for kids

Sílvia Vidal was born on December 17, 1970, in Barcelona, Spain. She is a professional mountaineer and a very skilled climber. Sílvia is famous for her amazing solo climbs on huge rock faces, often called "big walls." She has achieved these climbs in faraway places like Pakistan, India, Patagonia, and Alaska.

Early Life and First Climbs

Sílvia Vidal grew up in Barcelona. When she was 24, she was a university student studying physical education. She was also an athlete who loved running. One day, she tried a multi-sport event that included climbing. This was her first time touching rock, and she really liked it!

Sílvia learned to climb on large, multi-pitch walls. This is because her friends were doing that type of climbing. Within just one year, she was already climbing very difficult routes.

Amazing Climbing Adventures

Sílvia quickly became a top climber. After only two years, she received a special award called the Piolet d'Or from the Spanish Mountain Federation. This was for her climb in 1996 in Northern Spain.

Climbing in Pakistan

By the mid-1990s, Sílvia had climbed in famous places like Montserrat in Spain and Yosemite Valley in California. In August 1999, Sílvia, with her partners Pep Masip and Miguel Puigdomenech, made a first ascent. They climbed a 5800-meter (about 19,000 feet) tower called Amin Brakk in Pakistan. They spent 32 days straight on the wall! This climb was a huge test of their endurance.

Solo Expeditions

Sílvia is especially known for her solo climbs. This means she climbs by herself without a partner.

In July 2007, Sílvia went back to Pakistan alone. She climbed a massive 2900-foot (about 880 meters) route on Shipton Spire. She spent 21 days by herself on this huge rock face.

In 2012, Sílvia went on another solo trip to Patagonia in Chile. She spent 32 days alone on a 1500-meter (about 4,900 feet) route. The weather was very wet, and she spent 16 days just waiting in her special hanging tent, called a portaledge. She said it felt like she was in a swimming pool because of all the rain!

In July 2017, Sílvia completed another solo climb in Alaska. She climbed a route on the west face of Xanadu mountain.

In November 2021, Sílvia Vidal received a special mention at the Piolet d'Or awards. This was to honor her amazing contributions to solo big wall climbing.

Sílvia's Climbing Style

Sílvia Vidal is famous for climbing difficult routes by herself in very remote places. She likes to do all the planning and preparation herself. This includes researching the area and carrying all her own gear. She says planning these trips is very complex because she often goes to places where no one has climbed before.

When Sílvia goes on solo trips, she does not bring any way to talk to the outside world. No radio, phone, or internet! She sometimes even explores without maps or GPS, using her intuition to find her way.

Sílvia believes that how you climb is just as important as what you climb. She likes to be truly alone on her expeditions. For example, in 2017 in Alaska, she spent 53 days alone. A huge part of that time, 36 days, was spent just carrying her 150 kilograms (about 330 pounds) of food and gear! The actual climbing was a smaller part of her trip. She says, "If I go alone, I am alone."

Sílvia also believes that male and female climbers should be seen as equal. She thinks both men and women can achieve amazing things in climbing.

Personal Life

Sílvia has had sponsors to help with her climbing trips. However, these sponsorships have not always been steady. For example, she had to pay for her 2007 trip to Pakistan herself. She has also worked installing electrical cables in windmills to earn money.

Sílvia's trips are very demanding on her body. She often needs up to six months to recover after an expedition. When she is not climbing, she gives talks about her adventures and inspires others.

See also

In Spanish: Silvia Vidal para niños

• Catherine Destivelle
• Josune Bereziartu