Photo: Tom Evans / Associated Press  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell ascends what is known as pitch 10 on what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell...  In this Jan. 3, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell works what is known as pitch 15 as he and Kevin Jorgeson, not shown, attempt what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Jan. 3, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell...  Tommy Caldwell climbs Pitch 17 up El Capitan, with Kevin Jorgeson handling the line in Yosemite National Park.  Tommy Caldwell climbs Pitch 17 up El Capitan, with Kevin Jorgeson...  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson climbs Pitch 15 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson...  Climber Tommy Caldwell gathers up slack on a rope during his ascent of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan with climbing partner Kevin Jorgenson, in Yosemite National Park, California on Monday, January 5, 2015  Climber Tommy Caldwell gathers up slack on a rope during his ascent...  Tommy Caldwell hangs suspended in mid-air while using a video camera to document his and climbing partner Kevin Jorgenson's ascent of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California, on Saturday, January 3, 2015.  Tommy Caldwell hangs suspended in mid-air while using a video...  Climber Tommy Caldwell ascends the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.  Climber Tommy Caldwell ascends the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in...  Climbers Kevin Jorgenson, left, and Tommy Caldwell rest on a portaledge during their ascent of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California on Sunday, January 4, 2015.  Climbers Kevin Jorgenson, left, and Tommy Caldwell rest on a...  Kevin Jorgeson of Santa Rosa rests in a hanging tent called a portaledge during his attempt to free-climb El Capitan’s Dawn Wall with Tommy Caldwell.  Kevin Jorgeson of Santa Rosa rests in a hanging tent called a...  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson ascends what is known as Pitch 8 as two men attempt what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson...  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo, Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park, Colo., with Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, Calif., not seen, set up camp as they begin what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo, Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park,...  In this Dec. 27, 2014 photo, Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, Calif., left, and Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park, Colo., prepare their climbing gear before beginning what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. Tom Evans, a climber and photographer, has been chronicling Jorgeson and Caldwell, as they scale their way using only their hands and feet. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Dec. 27, 2014 photo, Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa,...  In this Dec. 29, 2014 photo by Kevin Jorgeson, Tommy Caldwell eats dinner during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Kevin Jorgeson, elcapreport)  In this Dec. 29, 2014 photo by Kevin Jorgeson, Tommy Caldwell eats...  In this Jan. 5, 2015 photo provided by Tome Evans, Kevin Jorgeson grips the surface of the Razor Edge during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Jan. 5, 2015 photo provided by Tome Evans, Kevin Jorgeson...  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson ascends the rope to pitch 17 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson...  In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell, in red, climbs pitch 19 while cameraman Brett Lowell records at lower right and another unidentified cameraman shoots from above during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell,...  FILE - In this June 23, 2010 file photo, El Capitan, the world's largest granite monolith, is seen in Yosemite National Park, Calif. Beginning Dec. 27, 2014, two climbers are attempting what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)  FILE - In this June 23, 2010 file photo, El Capitan, the world's...  In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell, in red, climbs pitch 19 as Kevin Jorgeson, below, belays rope on a rest day as cameraman Brett Lowell records at top right during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport  In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell,...  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell ascends from the base camp to climb what is known as pitch 17 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)  In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell...
The two climbers struggling up the mammoth southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite were close to joining forces soon after one of them got stuck on the most difficult section of the hardest free climb in history.  Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, plans to work his way up toward Pitch 20, where his climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell, left off in his quest to become the first to  free-climb the vertical 3,000-foot Dawn Wall, a feat that until recently most people thought was impossible.  Jorgeson took a rest day Sunday but will attempt Monday to climb this “easier” section of the seemingly smooth-as-slate granite face, an area that, to most climbers, would still be staggeringly difficult even using ropes.  Before climbing began Sunday a supply team brought the two men food, water, recharged batteries and, according to sharp-eyed observers, whiskey, a rejuvenating nighttime comfort that had apparently reached critically low levels.  The men are essentially doing thousands of pull-ups with their fingertips wedged in cracks, an activity that requires immense strength, including vise-grip hands, superhuman stamina, a tolerance for intense pain and perfect technique.  The grandeur of the place and the gravity of what they are doing seemed to be having an affect on the climbers as they rested Saturday night.  Caldwell, whose left index finger was lopped off in an accident with a saw years ago, is famous for more than his prodigious climbing talents, which include many free-climbing firsts.  The four suffered under threat of death until Caldwell pushed their guard off a cliff and they escaped, a heroic ending that caused an international sensation.