Career
He is best known for his bold first ascents in Yosemite (particularly on El Capitan), Canada and Alaska. And his significant influence on other notable climbers and the climbing community, in part due to his creation and development of innovative climbing equipment. He has also garnered a reputation as an adventurer (he was one of the first people to round Cape Horn in a kayak) and geoscientist in South America.
El Capitan, Yosemite, United States of America
Porter"s notable first ascents on El Capitan include
Zodiac 1972
The Shield 1972
Mescalito 1973
Tangerine Trip 1973
Excalibur 1975
Prior to the above routes, Porter"s 1972 solo ascent of New Dawn (a variation of Warren Harding and Dean Caldwell"s Wall of the Early Morning Light) in which he dropped his haul bag early in the route but continued to complete the climb 9 days later, sleeping in slings and an improvised sleeping bag made from ensolite foam, gained him significant notoriety in the climbing community.
Alaska
First solo of the Cassin Ridge, Mount McKinley 1976. Described as "ahead of its time".
West Face of Middle Triple Peak in the Kichatna Mountains with Russell McLean 1976. Canada
Polar Circus, V, Wisconsin 5, Cirrus Mountain, Banff National Park.
Tierra del Fuego
Monte Sarmiento, West Peak.
In 1995 he joined with Stephen Venables, John Roskelley, Jim Wickwire and Tim Macartney-Snape, however during high winds Porter was blown off an icy ridge, managing to stop his slide off the mountain by jamming his arm in a crevasse, breaking a bone and dislocating his shoulder in the process, but saving his life. In 1979 Porter kayaked around Cape Horn, becoming one of the first people to do southern Since the 1980s he lived in South America where he continued his spirit of adventure, sailing to remote locations, regularly chartering his yacht and guiding services to marine and climate scientists whose research is based in southern South America.
