ITD avalanche forecaster sets record on El Capitan climb

Chantel Astorga, one of District 3’s avalanche forecasters located in Lowman, was part of a duo that set the female speed climbing record on Sept. 16, scaling the Nose on Yosemite’s El Capitan (3,000 vertical feet) in 10 hours and 40 minutes.
Astorga and Libby Sauter, a member of Yosemite’s Search and Rescue Team, broke the record of 12 hours and 15 minutes set in 2004.

Astorga joined ITD’s Avalanche Forecast Office last year after serving in a similar position at Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah. She is an instructor and guide for the American Alpine Institute, with extensive experiencein guiding and climbing.

She has climbed in Alaska, the Cascades, Sierra Range, Patagonia, Tetons and Himalayas. 

Published 10-14-2011