(CNN)Professional climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson may be hours away from reaching a new height: the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Since December 27, Caldwell and Jorgeson have been scaling the 3,000-foot rock formation. Now, it appears the duo will reach the summit on Wednesday or Thursday. The route Caldwell and Jorgenson are attempting is the notoriously difficult Dawn Wall, more than a half mile high. There are many routes up El Capitan, but only a handful have been attempted by climbers trying to free climb -- using only their hands and feet -- with ropes designed only to catch them when they fall. And none have successfully conquered El Capitan's Dawn Wall.
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Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson trying to become first free climbers to reach top of El Capitan
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El Capitan is 3,000-foot rock formation in Yosemite National Park
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They are expected to reach the summit soon
But family members say the @placeholder route is one that has consumed him.