Todd Skinner facts for kids

Todd Richard Skinner (born October 27, 1958 – died October 23, 2006) was a very famous American free climber. He was known for being the first person to successfully climb many difficult routes around the world. He even completed the world's first "free ascent" of a Grade 7 climb, which is incredibly hard!

Todd was born in Pinedale, Wyoming. After finishing college at the University of Wyoming in 1982, he planned to take a short break to climb. But he loved climbing so much that he decided to become a full-time free climber and a speaker who inspired others. In 1990, he moved to Lander, Wyoming. He thought the cliffs there were perfect for practicing his climbing skills. He also opened a climbing shop called Wild Iris Mountain Sports in Lander. He encouraged climbers from all over the world to visit. Todd was married and had three children.

Todd Skinner's Amazing Climbs

Todd Skinner was a pioneer in the world of free climbing. This means he climbed using only his hands and feet on the rock. Ropes and other gear were only for safety, not for helping him move up. He was the first to complete many routes that no one had ever climbed before without aid. These are called "first free ascents."

What is a First Free Ascent?

Imagine a mountain or a rock wall. A "first free ascent" means being the very first person to climb that specific path. You climb it using only your own strength and skill. It's like discovering a new way to the top and proving it can be done. Todd Skinner did this on some of the toughest climbs in the world.

Some of His Incredible First Ascents

Todd Skinner achieved many "first free ascents" on very challenging routes. Here are some of his most famous climbs:

• 1985 - The Gunfighter (5.13b) in Hueco Tanks, Texas, United States.
• 1986 - City Park (5.13d) at Lower Index Town Wall, Washington, United States.
• 1988 - The Salathe Wall (VI 5.13b) on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
• 1989 - Lizzy Beams Desire (5.14a) in the Black Hills, South Dakota, United States.
• 1990 - The Jaded Lady (VI 5.12a) on the North face of Mt. Hooker, Wind River Range, Wyoming. He climbed this with Paul Piana, Galen Rowell, and Tim Toula.
• 1992 - The Great Canadian Knife (VI 5.13b) in the 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) on the East Face of Trango Tower in Pakistan's Karakoram Himalayas. This was the first Grade 7 free climb ever done in the world!
• 1998 - War and Poetry (VI 5.12c) at Ulamertorsuaq, Cape Farewell, Greenland.
• 2000 - True at First Light (VI 5.13a) on the East Face of Poi, Ndoto Mountains, Northern Kenya.
• 2004 - Wet Lycra Nightmare (V 5.13d) on Leaning Tower, Yosemite, California, United States.

Todd Skinner's Legacy

Todd Skinner was a true legend in climbing. He pushed the limits of what climbers thought was possible. He inspired many people to try harder and explore new routes. His adventures and achievements were even shared in a book called Hangdog Days by Jeff Smoot in 2019.

A Sad Accident

On October 23, 2006, Todd Skinner was climbing a route called "Jesus Built My Hotrod" on the Leaning Tower in Yosemite National Park. While he was using his rope to go down (this is called rappelling), he fell about 500 feet and sadly passed away. The accident happened because a part of his climbing harness called the "belay loop" broke. A friend had noticed that this part of his harness looked worn out before the climb. This tragic event was a reminder of how important it is to always check climbing gear carefully.