Paraplegic Climber and His Partner May Conquer El Capitan as Early as Tonight By Terence Chea The Fresno Bee - July 29, 1999 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - Just a few days past the 10th anniversary of his first historic ascent up El Capitan, disabled climber Mark Wellman is poised to conquer the granite beast once again. Over the past 11 days, Wellman, 39, and his partner, veteran mountaineer Mike Corbett, 45, have inched their way up the face of El Capitan, the tallest unbroken granite cliff in North America. Wellman, who was left paraplegic after a Sierra climbing accident in 1982, is expected to reach the 3,200-foot summit late tonight or early Friday, according to Carole Praxmarer, Wellman's business partner and fiancee. The climbers were healthy, energized and focused, said Praxmarer, who speaks to them daily by cell phone. "Every night they're tired but exhilarated," Praxmarer said. "They're even joking and laughing during the day." This climb comes 10 years after Wellman became the first paraplegic to scale the sheer granite face of El Capitan. They traversed the "Shield" route on their first trip, but this time they're tackling the wall-like "Nose" route. When they started the ascent July 19, Wellman and Corbett hoped to reach the summit in seven days, but a combination of illness and unanticipated obstacles has slowed them down. "This route is far more difficult," Praxmarer said. "Obviously, each pitch is taking him longer." Wellman, who is pulling himself up the towering monolith 6 inches at a time, must skirt boulders, grovel over loose chips and swing himself like a pendulum, Praxmarer said. As they near the summit, they are running low on food and water. They packed about 200 pounds of climbing gear, water and cold foods such as tuna, bagels and apples - enough for about 10 days. But as they entered the 11th day, provisions were running low. "They've cut back just slightly, knowing they need to conserve," Praxmarer said. Wellman and Corbett could not be reached to comment because they are trying to conserve cell-phone batteries, Praxmarer said. The Web site of Wellman's Truckee-based outdoor-sports equipment company documents each day of his climb with nightly updates. The climb got off to a rocky start as both Wellman and Corbett were weakened by colds and fever. Despite their illness, they insisted on setting out on the same July 19 date they started in 1989. As their health rebounded, so did their spirits. "We're feeling great now, healthy, strong and really working well as a team," Wellman said Friday, according to accounts posted on the Web site. Yet on the same date, news of park naturalist Joie Armstrong's murder broke. Hordes of reporters descended upon the national park to cover the slaying while reports of the climbers' progress faded as he surpassed the 1,000-foot mark. News of Armstrong's death disturbed Wellman and Corbett, especially after they heard she was an avid climber who had scaled the first third of El Capitan, Praxmarer said. "As they heard about it, it was quite saddening for them," Praxmarer said. But she added, "It's maybe given them more of a drive to make it to the summit." Wellman's ascent has drawn the attention of mountain climbers and disabled people around the world. On the fifth day, one quadriplegic and two paraplegic men arrived at the foot of the rock face at El Capitan Meadows to watch Wellman through binoculars and cheer him on. "Does the general public have any idea how incredible this is to have a para climbing El Capitan?" asked quadriplegic Gary Hughes of England, according to a Web site update. Another famous mountaineer came out to support Wellman on Tuesday. Warren Harding, who was the first to scale El Capitan in 1958, watched their ascent through binoculars in the meadows. "He's absolutely fantastic as far as I'm concerned," Harding said Wednesday. Wellman shows people they don't have to be limited by their disabilities, he added. "He's setting a terrific example for what you can do." Wellman, a motivational speaker, outdoorsman and author, said he hopes his 10th anniversary climb highlights the achievements of people with disabilities. "I like to find new ways to motivate people, disabled or not, and my dedication to the sport of climbing and commitment to athletes with disabilities helps my own passionate drive," Wellman said on his company's Web site. Corbett is no stranger to the sheer rock faces of Yosemite. A resident for two decades, Corbett has climbed El Capitan 53 times before. In May, he led 83-year-old Gerry Bloch,the oldest man ever to climb the granite wall, on his historic ascent. After he reaches the summit, Wellman will ride on a mule down the backside of El Capitan to Yosemite Valley.