Yosemite Valley, and Even a 3-D Quicktime Video of Yosemite Valley

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Yosemite Valley, and Even a 3-D Quicktime Video of Yosemite Valley See Yosemite Today YOSEMITE for a complete calendar of GUIDE what’s happening Your Key to Visiting the Park in the park. SUMMER/FALL 25¢ VOLUME XXX, NO. 2 A Climber Returns to El Capitan by hat a joy it was Tom to have as my Frost WYosemite climb- ing companion the enthusiastic, young Ryan Frost! It was June 1997. We were a third Photo by F. Mang, Jr. of the way up the Nose of El Capitan when I Look shared with Ryan my sudden realization. Inside! “This is the first time Valley Map . Back Panel I’ve been up on El Cap Park Map without Royal.” What a Planning Your Visit. 8 & 9 comfort it brought, Protect Your Park. 4 now with my 1960s Bears . 5 climbing partner and Camping . 6 mentor Royal Robbins Backpacking & not present, that his Valley Day Hikes . 7 shoes could be filled Explore Yosemite . 10 – 12 by a new light and Yosemite News. 2 companion—my son, Nature Notes . 3 Ryan Frost. Just for Kids . 12 & 13 Continued on page 1 The historic Nose route on El Capitan, first climbed in 1958 by Warren Harding, follows the south buttress between the sunlit and shadowed faces. YOSEMITE GUIDE Your Key to Visiting the Park SUMMER/FALL VOLUME XXX, NO. 2 A Climber Returns to El Capitan Continued from front cover I never thought I would climb El Capi- CLIMBING’S PIONEERS tan again. Thirty-seven years had passed But even back then, decades of since this same route with Robbins, Yosemite climbing history preceded us. Chuck Pratt, and Joe Fritschen had trans- The very first Yosemite climber, and also formed my life. Now suddenly, as great as the most influential, was the naturalist the adventure of 1960 had been, this new John Muir. Muir’s respect for the creation, one moved once again up into the un- including Yosemite’s great rocks, and his knowns of my life. It almost seemed as leave-no-trace philosophy of resource though nothing had changed. My first stewardship established the foundation reason to climb has always been the upon which every succeeding generation companionship. We climb to be inspired. of Yosemite climber built. Then in the late I enjoy climbing only with companions 1940s, John Salathé’s bold 5-day ascents that help point me toward God. Ryan and of the Lost Arrow Chimney and the North Royal did that well; it didn’t hurt that Face of Sentinel Rock set the climbing they also knew climbing. standard for courage, commitment, and Coming home to the Valley is sacred traveling light. Salathé hand-forged Thomas I.Photo © McMillan business. The rocks of Yosemite are so stronger pitons to avoid the placing of majestic and beautifully crafted that to many bolts, and raised himself to be the O EARN ORE know them and to realize how tailor- measure of his inspiring climbs. T L M ... made they are for our use is, in small Ten years after Salathé, Royal Robbins View climbers at work on rocks measure, to know the creator of them. View of the Valley from El Capitan. became the visionary and leading figure like Swan Slab just north of The bad news was this: of the Golden Age of Yosemite big Yosemite Lodge, Lembert Dome El Capitan, the object wall climbing. Even considering the it ever was! The climbs are exposed and in Tuolumne Meadows, and El of our design, had not size and massiveness of El Cap, he require as much hard climbing as did Capitan from El Capitan Meadow shrunk. We headed believed, “It isn’t getting to the top their first ascents. (bring your binoculars). Most El around the Valley loop that counts; it’s the way you do it.” Not realizing this, Ryan and I continued Cap and Valley climbing takes looking forward to a Robbins shunned fixed ropes and up the Nose. After we arrived at El Cap place in May, June, September, reunion in that Camp 4 excessive bolting of the wall. Tower an hour after dark, the rain began. and October. In the evening, you family of which Steve In 1998, Camp 4’s eligibility for We checked inside our little haul bag of can see the flashes of light from Roper, in his book Camp listing in the National Register of supplies and confirmed that two of our their headlamps as climbers settle 4: Recollections of a Historic Places acknowledged three gallons of water had perished on the in for the night. Yosemite Rockclimber, Yosemite’s place in the development swing from Sickle Ledge. The night was had helped us catch the of rock climbing history. In this Val- Take a walk through the historic cold. Rain continued. The next day, we vision. The rock walls of ley are found the finest quality, Camp 4 walk-in campground. observed that we had the Big Stone all to Yosemite may be our accessible, large granite monoliths Talk to climbers and ask ques- ourselves. Ryan led a treacherous climb gymnasium, workshop, in the world. Out of this Valley, a tions. You can often see them Photo by Tom Frost Tom Photo by up the chimney-like gap behind Texas and crucible, but Camp Royal Robbins aid style and method of climbing was practicing on large boulders near Flake in stiff boots and lived. The traverse 4 (the famed climber’s climbing on the exported that influenced rock- the campground. third pitch of the across to the bivouac in the Gray Band walk-in campground) climbers everywhere. Now the Attend a climbing interpretive Salathé Wall route was tedious, pendulum swings and more is home. With no small world of climbers comes to slideshow or a walking tour to in 1961. wet rock. The Great Roof was not only a amount of nervousness, Yosemite to climb the classic routes the Nose of El Cap, Swan Slab, roof, but also great. To keep warm, we we took a place in Site 23 near our heroes and to rub shoulders with the spirit of or Lembert Dome. See Yosemite climbed by day, but shivered by night. in the SAR (search and rescue) camp. Muir, Salathé, and Robbins. These Today for schedule. Our final day—high in the huge, open What change had taken place! climbers are the newest and current gen- dihedral that forms the top of the wall, Sign up for a climbing course Forty years ago and fresh out of college, eration of Camp 4 pioneers. I fell in with three climbers who became with its planes of granite shooting out- with the Yosemite Mountaineer- ward—beams of light cut the crisp, clean ing School, located in Curry bigger-than-life heroes—Royal Robbins, WHY CLIMB? Chuck Pratt, and Yvon Chouinard. Royal air and we ascended to where pioneers Village and Tuolumne Meadows. So you might ask, “Why? Why climb had gone before. was the natural leader. He was the right anyway? Especially walls as intimidating Read Camp 4: Recollections of a man for the job at this magical moment. as El Capitan?” I still go up for the same Yosemite Rockclimber by Steve The stage was set for the climbing of the reasons I did 40 years ago. It is not due to Roper or Vertical World of Yosemite first routes of a virgin El Capitan. a lack of fear, but more because of it. by Galen Rowell. A climbing Whereas the non-climber—for good rea- route poster of El Capitan is sons—stands in El Capitan Meadow and available at the Curry Village decides not to go up, I find it scarier look- Mountain Shop. ing up at El Cap from the Meadow than down on the Meadow from high on El Cap. And so I go—and find out what is to be learned. After all these years, I still find that I am in love with the rock and the Photo by Ryan Frost Valley. I still love to go up. I am inspired Tom Frost high on the Nose route of El Capitan, June 1997. YOSEMITE by the mystery and majesty of El Capitan and want to be a part of it. To feel the joy GUIDE of movement on sunlit granite, the wind In the 1960s, Tom Frost climbed actively Published by the National Park Service, in my face, the teamwork, the shared in Yosemite and the Himalayas and built in cooperation with the Yosemite Association and Yosemite high adventure. climbing hardware with renowned pioneer, Concession Services Corp. A lot has changed since the days of the Yvon Chouinard. At 65, he owns and oper- early ascents of El Capitan. There are ates FROSTWORKS, a manufacturer of NPS Editor and Coordinator Kristina Rylands many more climbers now, and they climb climbing hardware, and is Chief Engineer Production by Skip Gaynard Designs at a lot higher standard. But, notwith- and Chairman of the Board of Chimera Printed by Premier Offset Printing, Inc. standing, there is one thing that has not Photographic Lighting. Tom is planning a Email comments on this issue to changed: El Cap is just as big and scary as second comeback to climb El Capitan. Yose_Guide@ nps.gov Photo © Thomas I.Photo © McMillan A climber on the historic Headwall pitch on El Capitan’s Salathé Wall route. 1 YOSEMITEYOSEMITE NEWSNEWS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Dear Yosemite Friends, happenings and special events geared to help you Welcome to Yosemite! Tom Frost’s article on the make the most of your time here in Yosemite. cover of this issue of the Yosemite Guide reminds us Another way to begin making your own Yosemite of the deep connections that visitors can make to connections is to view the spectacular new film, this very special park.
Recommended publications
  • Sketch of Yosemite National Park and an Account of the Origin of the Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy Valleys
    SKETCH OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF THE YOSEMITE AND HETCH HETCHY VALLEYS DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 1912 This publication may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington. I). C, for LO cents. 2 SKETCH OP YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF THE YOSEMITE AND HETCH HETCHY VALLEYS. By F. E. MATTHES, U. S. Geological Surrey. INTRODUCTION. Many people believe that the Yosemite National Park consists principally of the Yosemite Valley and its bordering heights. The name of the park, indeed, would seem to justify that belief, yet noth­ ing could be further from the truth. The Yosemite Valley, though by far the grandest feature of the region, occupies only a small part of the tract. The famous valley measures but a scant 7 miles in length; the park, on the other hand, comprises no less than 1,124 square miles, an area slightly larger than the State of Rhode Island, or about one-fourth as large as Connecticut. Within this area lie scores of lofty peaks and noble mountains, as well as many beautiful valleys and profound canyons; among others, the Iletch Hetchy Valley and the Tuolumne Canyon, each scarcely less wonderful than the Yosemite Valley itself. Here also are foaming rivers and cool, swift trout brooks; countless emerald lakes that reflect the granite peaks about them; and vast stretches of stately forest, in which many of the famous giant trees of California still survive. The Yosemite National Park lies near the crest of the great alpine range of California, the Sierra Nevada.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
    NPS Form 10-900 OMBNo. 10024-0018 (Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior » , • National Park Service V National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determination for individual properties and districts Sec instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" lor 'not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and area of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10- 900A). Use typewriter, word processor or computer to complete all items. 1. Name of Property____________________________________________________ historic name Camp 4 other name/site number Sunnyside Campground__________________________________________ 2. Location_______________________________________________________ street & number Northside Drive, Yosemite National Park |~1 not for publication city or town N/A [_xj vicinity state California code CA county Mariposa code 043 zip code 95389 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this Itjiomination _irquest for determination of eligibility meets the documentationsJand»ds-iJar
    [Show full text]
  • Yosemite Guide Yosemite
    Yosemite Guide Yosemite Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park July 29, 2015 - September 1, 2015 1, September - 2015 29, July Park National Yosemite in Do to What and Go to Where NPS Photo NPS 1904. Grove, Mariposa Monarch, Fallen the astride Soldiers” “Buffalo Cavalry 9th D, Troop Volume 40, Issue 6 Issue 40, Volume America Your Experience Yosemite, CA 95389 Yosemite, 577 PO Box Service Park National US DepartmentInterior of the Year-round Route: Valley Yosemite Valley Shuttle Valley Visitor Center Upper Summer-only Routes: Yosemite Shuttle System El Capitan Fall Yosemite Shuttle Village Express Lower Shuttle Yosemite The Ansel Fall Adams l Medical Church Bowl i Gallery ra Clinic Picnic Area l T al Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System F e E1 5 P2 t i 4 m e 9 Campground os Mirror r Y 3 Uppe 6 10 2 Lake Parking Village Day-use Parking seasonal The Ahwahnee Half Dome Picnic Area 11 P1 1 8836 ft North 2693 m Camp 4 Yosemite E2 Housekeeping Pines Restroom 8 Lodge Lower 7 Chapel Camp Lodge Day-use Parking Pines Walk-In (Open May 22, 2015) Campground LeConte 18 Memorial 12 21 19 Lodge 17 13a 20 14 Swinging Campground Bridge Recreation 13b Reservations Rentals Curry 15 Village Upper Sentinel Village Day-use Parking Pines Beach E7 il Trailhead a r r T te Parking e n il i w M in r u d 16 o e Nature Center El Capitan F s lo c at Happy Isles Picnic Area Glacier Point E3 no shuttle service closed in winter Vernal 72I4 ft Fall 2I99 m l E4 Mist Trai Cathedral ail Tr op h Beach Lo or M ey ses erce all only d R V iver E6 Nevada To & Fall The Valley Visitor Shuttle operates from 7 am to 10 pm and serves stops in numerical order.
    [Show full text]
  • Yosemite Valley Hiking Map U.S
    Yosemite National Park National Park Service Yosemite Valley Hiking Map U.S. Department of the Interior To To ) S k Tioga n Tioga m e To o e k w r Road 10 Shuttle Route / Stop Road 7 Tioga . C Ranger Station C 4 n 3.I mi (year round) 6.9 mi ( Road r e i o 5.0 km y I e II.I km . 3.6 mi m n 6 k To a 9 m 5.9 km 18 Shuttle Route / Stop . C Self-guiding Nature Trail Tioga North 0 2 i Y n ( . o (summer only) 6 a Road 2 i s . d 6 m e 5.0 mi n m k i I Trailhead Parking ( 8.0 km m Bicycle / Foot Path I. it I.3 0 e ) k C m (paved) m re i ( e 2 ) ) k . Snow I Walk-in Campground m k k m Creek Hiking Trail .2 k ) Falls 3 Upper e ( e Campground i r Waterfall C Yosemite m ) 0 Fall Yosemite h I Kilometer . c r m 2 Point A k Store l 8 6936 ft . a ) y 0 2II4 m ( m I Mile o k i R 9 I. m ( 3. i 2 5 m . To Tamarack Flat North m i Yosemite Village 0 Lower (5 .2 Campground . I I Dome 2.5 mi Yosemite k Visitor Center m 7525 ft 0 Fall 3.9 km ) 2294 m . 3 k m e Cre i 2.0 mi Lower Yosemite Fall Trail a (3 To Tamarack Flat ( Medical Royal Mirror .2 0 y The Ahwahnee a m) k .
    [Show full text]
  • Wall Free Climb in the World by Tommy Caldwell
    FREE PASSAGE Finding the path of least resistance means climbing the hardest big- wall free climb in the world By Tommy Caldwell Obsession is like an illness. At first you don't realize anything is happening. But then the pain grows in your gut, like something is shredding your insides. Suddenly, the only thing that matters is beating it. You’ll do whatever it takes; spend all of your time, money and energy trying to overcome. Over months, even years, the obsession eats away at you. Then one day you look in the mirror, see the sunken cheeks and protruding ribs, and realize the toll taken. My obsession is a 3,000-foot chunk of granite, El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. As a teenager, I was first lured to El Cap because I could drive my van right up to the base of North America’s grandest wall and start climbing. I grew up a clumsy kid with bad hand-eye coordination, yet here on El Cap I felt as though I had stumbled into a world where I thrived. Being up on those steep walls demanded the right amount of climbing skill, pain tolerance and sheer bull-headedness that came naturally to me. For the last decade El Cap has beaten the crap out of me, yet I return to scour its monstrous walls to find the tiniest holds that will just barely go free. So far I have dedicated a third of my life to free climbing these soaring cracks and razor-sharp crimpers. Getting to the top is no longer important.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating the El Capitan Rock Avalanche
    BY GREG STOCK INVESTIGATING THE EL CapITAN ROCK AVALANCHE t 2:25 on the morning of March 26, 1872, one of avalanche, an especially large rockfall or rockslide that the largest earthquakes recorded in California extends far beyond the cliff where it originated. Most Ahistory struck along the Owens Valley fault near Yosemite Valley rockfall debris accumulates at the base the town of Lone Pine just east of the Sierra Nevada. The of the cliffs, forming a wedge-shaped deposit of talus. earthquake leveled most buildings in Lone Pine and sur- Occasionally, however, debris from a rock avalanche will rounding settlements, and killed 23 people. Although extend out much farther across the valley floor. seismographs weren’t yet available, the earthquake is esti- Geologist Gerald Wieczorek of the U.S. Geological mated to have been about a magnitude 7.5. Shock waves Survey and colleagues have identified at least five rock from the tembler radiated out across the Sierra Nevada. avalanche deposits in Yosemite Valley. The largest of these On that fateful morning, John Muir was sleeping in occurred in Tenaya Canyon, at the site of present-day a cabin near Black’s Hotel on the south side of Yosemite Mirror Lake. Sometime in the past, a rock formation on Valley, near present-day Swinging Bridge. The earth- the north wall of the canyon just east of and probably quake shook the naturalist out of bed. Realizing what similar in size to Washington Column collapsed into was happening, Muir bolted outside, feeling “both glad Tenaya Canyon. The rock debris piled up against the and frightened” and shouting “A noble earthquake!” He south canyon wall to a depth of over 100 feet.
    [Show full text]
  • Yosemite Guide @Yosemitenps
    Yosemite Guide @YosemiteNPS Yosemite's rockclimbing community go to great lengths to clean hard-to-reach areas during a Yosemite Facelift event. Photo by Kaya Lindsey Experience Your America Yosemite National Park August 28, 2019 - October 1, 2019 Volume 44, Issue 7 Yosemite, CA 95389 Yosemite, 577 PO Box Service Park National US DepartmentInterior of the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System Year-round Route: Valley Yosemite Valley Shuttle Valley Visitor Center Summer-only Route: Upper Hetch Yosemite Shuttle System El Capitan Hetchy Shuttle Fall Yosemite Tuolumne Village Campground Meadows Lower Yosemite Parking The Ansel Fall Adams Yosemite l Medical Church Bowl i Gallery ra Clinic Picnic Area Picnic Area Valley l T Area in inset: al F e E1 t 5 Restroom Yosemite Valley i 4 m 9 The Ahwahnee Shuttle System se Yo Mirror Upper 10 3 Walk-In 6 2 Lake Campground seasonal 11 1 Wawona Yosemite North Camp 4 8 Half Dome Valley Housekeeping Pines E2 Lower 8836 ft 7 Chapel Camp Yosemite Falls Parking Lodge Pines 2693 m Yosemite 18 19 Conservation 12 17 Heritage 20 14 Swinging Center (YCHC) Recreation Campground Bridge Rentals 13 15 Reservations Yosemite Village Parking Curry Upper Sentinel Village Pines Beach il Trailhead E6 a Curry Village Parking r r T te Parking e n il i w M in r u d 16 o e Nature Center El Capitan F s lo c at Happy Isles Picnic Area Glacier Point E3 no shuttle service closed in winter Vernal 72I4 ft Fall 2I99 m l Mist Trai Cathedral ail Tr op h Beach Lo or M E4 ey ses erce all only d Ri V ver E5 Nevada Fall To & Bridalveil Fall d oa R B a r n id wo a a lv W e i The Yosemite Valley Shuttle operates from 7am to 10pm and serves stops in numerical order.
    [Show full text]
  • O Regon Section . Bob Mcgown, Section Chair, Was on Four
    O r e g o n S e c t i o n . Bob McGown, Section chair, was on four continents this year, so Richard Bence took over some of his duties. Bence also maintains the Oregon Section and Madrone Wall Web sites, www.ors.alpine.org and www.savemadrone.org. The Oregon Section spon­ sors the Madrone Wall Web site. In a public study session, Clackamas County unanimously accepted the Parks Advisory Board recommendation not to sell the site for a private quarry or housing development and to move forward to establish a public park. Letters of support were written by over 500 citizens and by organizations including the Oregon Section. AAC member Keith Daellenbach is the founder and long time director of the Friends of Madrone Wall Pres­ ervation Committee. In late fall 2005 the Section sent $2,500 to Pakistan and collected tents and clothing that were shipped by the AAC. In January at the Hollywood Theater, Jeff Alzner organized the Cascade Mountain Film Festival, which raised an additional $6,000 for Pakistani relief efforts. Other contributions came from the Banff Film Festival participants who donated use of their films: Sandra Wroten and Gary Beck. There were also significant donations from Jill Kellogg, Jeff Alzner, Richard Bence, Richard Humphrey, Bob McGown, and others. Mazama president Wendy Carlton acted as MC in making the Pakistan Earthquake Village evening a success. We had over a dozen volunteers from the AAC and the Mazamas, and an estimated 350 people attended. The chair of Mercy Corps, headquartered in Portland, introduced the program.
    [Show full text]
  • Campground in Yosemite National Park
    MileByMile.com Personal Road Trip Guide California Byway Highway # "Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road" Miles ITEM SUMMARY 0.0 End of Tioga Pass Road on Scenic Tioga Pass Road on State Highway #120, ends at the junction of State Highway #120 Big Oak Road just outside Yosemite Valley within Yosemite National Park, California. Altitude: 6158 feet 0.6 Tuolumne Grove Trail Tuolumne Grove Trail Head, Tioga Pass Road, Tuolumne Grove, is a Head sequoia grove located near Crane Flat in Yosemite National Park, California Altitude: 6188 feet 3.7 Old Big Oak Flat Road South to Tamarack Flat Campground in Yosemite National Park. Has 52 campsites, picnic tables, food lockers, fire rings, and vault toilets. Altitude: 7018 feet 6.2 Old Tioga Road Trail To Old Tioga Road, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, lies in Hetch Hetchy Valley, which is completely flooded by the Hetch Hetchy Dam, in Yosemite National Park, California. Wapama Falls, in Hetch Hetchy Valley, Lake Vernon, Rancheria Falls, Rancheria Creek, Camp Mather Lake. Altitude: 6772 feet 6.2 Trail to Tamarrack Flat Altitude: 6775 feet Campground 13.7 Siesta Lake Altitude: 7986 feet 14.5 White Wolf Road To White Wolf Campground, located outside of Yosemite Valley, just off Tioga Pass Road in California. Altitude: 8117 feet 16.5 Access To Luken's Lake, Yosemite Creek Trail, Altitude: 8182 feet 19.7 Access A mountainous Road/Trail, Quaking Aspen Falls, is a seasonal water fall, that stream relies on rain and snow melting, dries up in summer, located just off Tioga Pass Road, in Yosemite National Park, Altitude: 7500 feet 20.3 Quaking Aspen Falls East of highway.
    [Show full text]
  • Superintendent's Message
    Superintendent’s Message Welcome! I am so grateful to have you here to help caretake Yosemite during these unprecedented circumstances. Thank you for your commitment to public service and public land during this challenging time. On behalf of the leadership team, we are deeply honored to have you as part of our world-class team. While not new to the park, I began here as the Acting Superintendent this past January. I’ve spent my career in the park service and most recently came from Point Reyes National Seashore where I’ve been superintendent since 2010. I have always been inspired at every opportunity to work with Yosemite’s passionate and talented staff and my experience since January has only underscored this sentiment. My vision for Yosemite in Summer 2020 is first and foremost to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors. Our physical and mental health are Commented [KN1]: I would say here something like, “I critical to our success as a park. We live closely with each other and with the dynamic natural landscape, both of have been impressed by the speak up culture here at which require us to be uniquely aware and resilient. I fully encourage each and every one of you to take Yosemite. If you ever feel unsafe in the task you are given, advantage of the support services available to you as an employee with the understanding that daily peer support please be sure to speak up and let your supervisor know.” is the most effective strategy benefitting us at individual and organizational levels.
    [Show full text]
  • CC J Inners 168Pp.Indd
    theclimbers’club Journal 2011 theclimbers’club Journal 2011 Contents ALPS AND THE HIMALAYA THE HOME FRONT Shelter from the Storm. By Dick Turnbull P.10 A Midwinter Night’s Dream. By Geoff Bennett P.90 Pensioner’s Alpine Holiday. By Colin Beechey P.16 Further Certifi cation. By Nick Hinchliffe P.96 Himalayan Extreme for Beginners. By Dave Turnbull P.23 Welsh Fix. By Sarah Clough P.100 No Blends! By Dick Isherwood P.28 One Flew Over the Bilberry Ledge. By Martin Whitaker P.105 Whatever Happened to? By Nick Bullock P.108 A Winter Day at Harrison’s. By Steve Dean P.112 PEOPLE Climbing with Brasher. By George Band P.36 FAR HORIZONS The Dragon of Carnmore. By Dave Atkinson P.42 Climbing With Strangers. By Brian Wilkinson P.48 Trekking in the Simien Mountains. By Rya Tibawi P.120 Climbing Infl uences and Characters. By James McHaffi e P.53 Spitkoppe - an Old Climber’s Dream. By Ian Howell P.128 Joe Brown at Eighty. By John Cleare P.60 Madagascar - an African Yosemite. By Pete O’Donovan P.134 Rock Climbing around St Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Desert. By Malcolm Phelps P.142 FIRST ASCENTS Summer Shale in Cornwall. By Mick Fowler P.68 OBITUARIES A Desert Nirvana. By Paul Ross P.74 The First Ascent of Vector. By Claude Davies P.78 George Band OBE. 1929 - 2011 P.150 Three Rescues and a Late Dinner. By Tony Moulam P.82 Alan Blackshaw OBE. 1933 - 2011 P.154 Ben Wintringham. 1947 - 2011 P.158 Chris Astill.
    [Show full text]
  • WEB GYMOAZ01-20 Yosemite-Annie
    JOHN MUIR’S YOSEMITE BY ANNE GROEBNER As I drove north on California Route 395 toward Sacramento, I was shadowed on my left by the magnificent Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mountain ranges that are so tall that wisps of snow still clung to the tops of ridges even on that warm, late August evening. I knew that somewhere, hidden behind the facade of towering cliffs and jagged mountain ranges, I would find one of the most majestic of the American National Park System — Yosemite National Park. It was a place that I had read about in school and heard about but had never had the chance to see. I was so close that I could have driven past my reservation in Mammoth Lakes and just turned into the Park but the sun had already dipped below the Sierra Nevada horizon and, by the time I got to my hotel, it was dark. I checked into my room, opened up my cooler and ate a sandwich while I studied the Yosemite Guide that I picked up in the Lobby. I only had one day to see the place that John Muir dubbed “the grandest of all His special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter…. the sanctum sanctorum of the Sierras.” The next morning, after checking out of my hotel, I drove around the small mountain town of Mammoth Lakes. In the summer, it caters to outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, bikers and mountain climbers but, in the winter, it hosts skiers and snowboarders. It was pretty early and I had read that there was a Schat’s Bakery in town — a smaller version of the gigantic parent bakery located in Bishop, off CA Rte.
    [Show full text]