Outside Podcast Life Lessons Learned Hanging Off a 2,600-Foot Cliff For 9 Days, with Sasha DiGiulian
Feb 25, 2026
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Nine Days Trapped On A Portaledge
- Sasha DiGiulian and partner Elliot Faber got pinned 2,600 feet up on El Capitan when a freak winter storm dumped nine days of rain, wind, snow, and ice.
- They were 400 feet from the top, shared portaledges and rationed freeze-dried food while encased in ice and fearing pole failure.
Set Clear Intentions Before You Climb
- Communicate intentions and emotional state clearly before and during an expedition to align goals and avoid conflict.
- Sasha says set intentions on the ground and discuss priorities, hurdles, and who will do specific tasks to prevent surprises.
Ask For Early Transparency On Who Will Deliver
- If a teammate can't meet expectations, ask them to be transparent early so tasks can be reassigned rather than failing unexpectedly.
- Sasha prefers knowing someone will drop the ball ahead of time so she can take it off their plate.