A 10-year-old girl has made rock climbing history by becoming the youngest person on record to scale Yosemite's iconic El Capitan.

Selah Schneiter, from Colorado, climbed the 7,500ft (2,286 metre) route - known as The Nose - over five days with her father Mike, an experienced climber, and a family friend.

She reached the summit on 12 June after using a rope climbing technique known as jumaring to tackle the famously steep rock formation.

After reaching the top of the granite monolith in central California, Selah celebrated her feat with a pizza.

Image: The 10-year-old used a rope climbing technique known as jumaring

"I just can't believe I just did that," she said in a video captured after her impressive achievement.


"Our big motto was 'How do you eat an elephant?' Small bites. One pitch at a time, one move at a time, one day at a time," she told KFSN in Fresno.

Few adults can say they have successfully reached El Capitan's zenith, with many experienced climbers considering The Nose to be the most iconic big-wall climb in the world.

Saleh's father said she was in shock on reaching the peak.

Revealing she broke down in tears, Mr Schneiter said: "She said it was her first happy tears she's ever had.

"We were tired after a long five days and camped out that night, but she was like a little kid again and wanted to check everything out, exploring almost like it was nothing."

He said they spent time on ledges throughout the climb "just relaxing… talking about the world… talking about life".

Image: El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park

Selah comes from a family of hiking enthusiasts who have developed a special connection to Yosemite's trails.

Mr Schneiter, a climbing instructor, claims to have met his daughter's mother, Joy, while hiking in the region years prior.

Selah is now encouraging her seven-year-old brother to follow in her footsteps.

In 2017, American rock climber Alex Honnold became the first person to scale El Capitan without ropes or safety equipment.