Todd Skinner

Todd Richard Skinner (October 27, 1958 – October 23, 2006) was an American rock climber and expert in big wall climbing. He made the first free ascents of many routes around the world, including his historic first free ascent with Paul Piana in 1988 of the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite; it was one of the first-ever big wall climbs at , and led to the birth of "free climbing" Yosemite.

Skinner's story was told in Jeff Smoot's 2019 book, Hangdog Days.

Personal life Skinner was born in Pinedale, Wyoming, and planned to "take a little while off to climb" after gaining a degree in finance from the University of Wyoming in 1982. Jim Hewett, a friend of Skinner, had previously observed that the harness appeared worn.

Notable first free ascents 1985 – The Gunfighter (5.13b), Hueco Tanks, Texas, United States. 1986 – City Park (5.13d), Lower Index Town Wall, Washington, United States 1988 – Salathe Wall (VI 5.13b), El Capitan, Yosemite, the first-ever big wall climbs at , and the birth of "free climbing" Yosemite. 1991 - Throwin' the Houlihan (5.14a), Wild Iris, Wyoming, United States 1992 – The Great Canadian Knife (VI 5.13b), Cirque of the Unclimbables, Yukon Territories, Canada. 1993 – Northwest Direct Route (VI 5.13d) on Half Dome, Yosemite. 1995 – Cowboy Direct (VII 5.13a) East Face of Nameless Tower, Pakistan's Karakoram Himalayas. 1998 – War and Poetry (VI 5.12c), Ulamertorsuaq, Cape Farewell, of Greenland 2000 – True at First Light (VI 5.13a), East Face of Poi, Ndoto Mountains, Northern Kenya 2004 – Wet Lycra Nightmare (V 5.13d), Leaning Tower, Yosemite, California, United States