2 Yosemite climbers closing in on historic feat

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The two climbers vying to become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale a sheer granite face in California's Yosemite National Park are almost to the top.

A spokeswoman said Tuesday that 30-year-old Kevin Jorgeson of California and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell of Colorado will likely finish the half-mile climb up El Capitan's Dawn Wall on Wednesday evening.

For 17 days, the two have been attempting what many thought impossible. The men are ''free-climbing'' to the 3,000-foot summit, meaning they don't use climbing aids other than ropes only to prevent deadly falls.

Each trained for more than five years, and they have battled bloodied fingers and unseasonably warm weather. Plus, Jorgeson fell 11 times over seven days trying to get past one tough section.