Thank God Ledge - Half Dome

Thank God Ledge is one of the most iconic and nerve-wracking features in all of climbing — a narrow, exposed shelf high on the sheer granite face of Half Dome in Yosemite Valley. This video captures Pitch 20 of the Regular Northwest Face route, where climbers must traverse a ledge so exposed that the name says it all, with thousands of feet of air below and nothing but commitment ahead. With over seven million views, this short clip has captivated audiences far beyond the climbing world, offering a visceral window into the vertigo-inducing reality of big wall climbing in Yosemite. Whether you walk it upright or press your back to the wall and shuffle sideways, Thank God Ledge is a rite of passage — and watching it is enough to make your palms sweat from the comfort of your couch.

Brad Johnson · 3:39

Thank God Ledge. Pitch 20 of the Regular Northwest Face route on Half Dome.