[TR] Yosemite National Park- Two Tuolumne Alpine Classics, etc. 9/18/2006

[roboboy]

Climb: Yosemite National Park-Two Tuolumne Alpine Classics, etc.

 

Date of Climb: 9/18/2006

 

Trip Report:

We reached Tuolumne Meadows after two days of driving from Seattle. James was eager to test the local ratings so went to try a route on Lembert Dome. James also wanted to see if he could climb on Tuolumne granite in mountain boots - he could. James also has desirable abilities of climbing vertical rock as fast as a chipmunk up a pine tree, getting by with minimal equipment and food on extended climbs and sleeping soundly without a tent in almost any situation.

 

 

 

 

The next day we hiked to Young Lakes to tackle a bigger objective, Mt Conness, West ridge.

 

Views of eastern Yosemite on approach:

 

 

 

We headed for Mt Conness the next morning in clear but very windy conditions:

 

 

The first 400 ft or so were very steep, stemming shallow grooves and laybacking dihedrals. There was always an incut hold for the feet or a flake for a handhold when you needed them though, keeping the grade moderate, but sustained.

 

 

 

After that we simulclimbed about 1000 ft to the summit, mostly around class 5.0. The middle section of the route became a sensational knife edge with a 1000 ft vertical drop below the right shoulder and a few hundred below the left but pro was always good.

 

 

 

 

 

We were back at our camp 10 hrs after leaving it but pretty tired so we decided to make do with what food we had and spend another night. Young Lake was definitely tolerable though:

 

 

 

The next day we went to do the Tuolumne Meadows classic moderate crag climb - Great White Books on Stately Pleasure Dome (right leaning corner, right of center). The climbing WAS moderate but the route is outrageously runout with scarce pro for 4 pitches. James trusty ropegun got me up it however.

 

 

Cathedral Peak may have seen 100,000 ascents by now but it is still 700 feet of beautiful white Sierra granite. The first pitch is mostly slab, the second a chimney, then 3 or 4 pitches of mostly face climbing on knobs:

 

 

 

 

Time was up so we had to head home with many other desired objectives left undone but I hope to return soon.

 

Northern Yosemite from Cathedral Peak:

 

 

[Kevin_Matlock]

Nice report and awesome pics!

Looks tasty.

[CircleOfWillis]

Rob, thanks for emailing me the link to your TR. Pix are strikingly beautiful! Gorgeous weather. What a perfect time to spend your week down there!

 

-----------

Sic friatur crustum dulce.

[skitchmo]

Ahhh, that's some beautiful country, thanks for sharing you pics. I grew up learning to climb there and was there just before you to climb Cathedral Peak with my dad on his 75th birthday! We got dinked by the weather, I'm glad you got a good taste of “T mdws”.

[whidbey]

Great job Rob!!!!! damn nice pic's also

[goatboy]

Enjoyable TR and some nicely chosen overview photos and ridge images!

 

That's Cathedral Peak in the third photo, isn't it? With Eichorn Pinnacle visible on the right?

 

What's the big bulbous dome nearby?

[roboboy]

yes, that's Cathedral Pk & Eichorn Pinnacle on the skyline. The big dome is Fairview.

[catbirdseat]

Nice TR. Those pictures are tantalizing. Major Sierra envy going on here.

[Winter]

Thanks for sharing the stoke!! The wife and I are packing for a 10-day Cali swing as we speak - ETD Wednesday evening.