The Ground Up Podcast8 Jul 2025

Ground Up 23: Breaking Barriers in the Valley with Kate Kelleghan and Laura Pineau

Few endurance challenges rival the infamous Yosemite Triple Crown — a mega link-up of three iconic big walls in Yosemite National Park: the Nose on El Capitan, the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome, and the South Face of Mount Watkins.

Since its first completion in 2001, no women had managed to complete the feat...

That is, until Kate Kelleghan and Laura Pineau showed up.

With impressive climbing résumés built in very different corners of the sport, Laura and Kate connected via a simple Instagram DM — both with their sights set on the Triple Crown.

In this episode of The Ground Up Podcast, we dive deep into the world of big wall speed climbing and the story behind Laura and Kate’s historic ascent. We begin in Boulder, Colorado, where the pair completed a brief training stint — including setting a new all-female fastest known time on the Naked Edge, a notoriously tricky route in Eldorado Canyon. Then we head to Yosemite Valley, as they walk us through their preparation, strategy, and the push that made them the first women to complete the Yosemite Triple Crown — in a blazing 23 hours and 36 minutes.

The Yosemite Triple Crown

The Nose of El Capitan

The Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome

The South Face of Mount Watkins

The Naked Edge - Edorado Canyon

Follow Kate on Instagram: @katekelleghan

Follow Laura on Instagram: @laurapineau

Read more about the new fastest female ascent of the Naked Edge: https://coros.com/stories/more-than-splits/c/naked-edge-womens-speed-record-kate-kelleghan-laura-pineau

Follow along on Instagram: @listentogroundup

Check out our new website: https://www.thegrounduppodcast.com/

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