From Climbing · Corey Buhay · · 1m 40s
Climbers Link Six Zion Walls in Historic 18-Hour Climb
Two climbers set a new record by linking six Zion big walls in 18 hours.
In brief
Two climbers set a new record by linking six Zion big walls in 18 hours. Connor Baty and Max Krieger became the first team to link six Zion big walls in under 24 hours, setting a new speed record. Originally reported by Climbing.
Historic First Linkup
Connor Baty and Max Krieger became the first team to link six Zion big walls in under 24 hours.
Record-Breaking Time
They completed the enchainment in just 18 hours and 52 minutes on their first attempt.
Six Walls Linked
The linkup included Monkeyfinger, Lunar Ecstacy, Sheer Lunacy, Moonlight Buttress, Touchstone Wall, and Prodigal Sun.
Previous Records
Prior to their attempt, the record was four walls first completed in 1992 by Conrad Anker and Doug Heinrich.
Preparation Timeline
Baty first got the idea after linking three walls solo in October 2024 and planned with Krieger in late September 2026.
Weather Challenge
Rain threatened their single weather window on October 12, 2026, but they climbed anyway.
Climbing Strategy
They split the load by skillset: Baty took Lunar Ecstacy, Moonlight Buttress, and Prodigal Sun; Krieger took Monkeyfinger, Sheer Lunacy, and Touchstone.
Heat Challenge
Krieger suffered dehydration cramps and dizziness in 90-degree temperatures during the climb.
Bird Encounter
Baty fistfought a large bird on Prodigal Sun around midnight after it dive-bombed him repeatedly.
Final Time
They topped out Prodigal Sun at 11:52 p.m., setting new FKTs for Lunar Ecstacy and the five- and six-wall enchainments.
Next Steps
Baty left town the next day for a 30-day paddle from Colorado to Mexico along the Colorado River.
The one thing
Connor Baty and Max Krieger became the first team to link six Zion big walls in under 24 hours, setting a new speed record.
