Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs

Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs is a comprehensive guide to the rock climbing in the uncrowded southern boundary region of Yosemite National Park. These areas include: Mt. Starr King, Wawona, Fresno Dome, The Balls, Mammoth Pool, and Shuteye Ridge. Originally published in 1988, and out of print for several years, this guidebook chronicles 20 years of Southern Yosemite climbing from the early 70s exploration by Royal Robbins and Fred Beckey through the late 80s sport climbing era. This reprint of the original 1988 edition contains first-hand descriptions of the climbs as told by the original ascentionists. In the nearly 20 years since the publication of the Southern Yosemite guide, new approaches have appeared, new routes have been found and climbed, and a new generation of climbers have discovered the adventure of Southern Yosemite.

Few things suggest rugged individualism as powerfully as the solitary mountaineer testing his or her mettle in the rough country. Yet the long history of wilderness sport complicates this image. In this surprising story of the premier rock-climbing venue in the United States, Pilgrims of the Vertical offers insight into the nature of wilderness adventure. From the founding era of mountain climbing in Victorian Europe to present-day climbing gyms, Pilgrims of the Vertical shows how ever-changing alignments of nature, technology, gender, sport, and consumer culture have shaped climbers’ relations to nature and to each other. Even in Yosemite Valley, a premier site for sporting and environmental culture since the 1800s, elite athletes cannot be entirely disentangled from the many men and women seeking recreation and camaraderie. Following these climbers through time, Joseph Taylor uncovers lessons about the relationship of individuals to groups, sport to society, and nature to culture. He also shows how social and historical contexts influenced adventurers’ choices and experiences, and why some became leading environmental activists—including John Muir, David Brower, and Yvon Chouinard. In a world in which wild nature is increasingly associated with play, and virtuous play with environmental values, Pilgrims of the Vertical explains when and how these ideas developed, and why they became intimately linked to consumerism.

Over 230 of the best routes in Yosemite Valley from 16-pitch trad climbs to one-pitch sport routes. While many hard Yosemite testpieces are included, this book focuses on topropes, crags, and multi-pitch climbs in the 5.4-5.9 range. Includes formerly obscure climbs to provide more options for avoiding crowds. As in all SuperTopo books, the authors personally climbed and documented each route with meticulous care to create the most detailed and accurate topos ever published.

Awarded the 2009 Bronze Medal in the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation's annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition: "Whether you want to stand on a glacier or have a beer with local bikers, this is the definitive (as well as wonderfully eccentric) guide to the immensity of the southern Sierra and Owens Valley. John Muir would be pleased."—Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz and Ecology of Fear The only complete guide to California’s southern Sierra Nevada—some of the most stunning wilderness in North America—is better than ever in this revised, updated edition. Detailed reviews of lodging, dining, and recreation, plus outfitters, campsites, trails, and points of historic and cultural interest.

An updated and redesigned guide one of America's greatest destinations Yosemite is a tremendously popular tourist destination, gaining visitors every year. The only complete guide to California’s southern Sierra Nevada—some of the most stunning wilderness in North America—is better than ever in this revised, updated, and beautifully redesigned third edition. Detailed reviews of lodging, dining, and recreation, plus outfitters, campsites, trails, and points of historic and cultural interest, make this book an essential companion to the incomparable Yosemite region. Renowned travel writer David T. Page makes it easy to get the very most out of your journey. In this book, as with every title in the Explorer’s Guide series, you’ll get beautiful photography, up-to-date maps, and lots of helpful advice from an expert author. Page has seen everything the Sierra Nevada has to offer and now so can you!

Hans Florine embodies the genius of "and"—collaborative and competitive, fast and safe, audacious and disciplined, visionary and quantitative. The themes that run through Florine's 101 ascents of Yosemite's most iconic route can benefit people who will never climb a rock, indeed anyone inspired by the idea of a passionate, lifelong quest of any type. —Jim Collins, author of Good to Great Hans Florine is a big-wall climbing legend in his own time. He holds the speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite cliff in Yosemite Valley that’s considered the Everest of the rock-climbing world. Ascending the Nose takes most climbers anywhere from 12 to 96 hours. Florine, along with climbing partner Alex Honnold, does it in an astounding 2.5 hours. But Florine’s story is not one of super-human athletic prowess; it’s one of persistence and dogged determination. In 30 years of climbing, he's ascended the Nose a mind-blowing, death-defying 100 times, more than anyone else ever has, and most likely ever will. In On the Nose, Florine describes the most dangerous, pivotal, and inspirational of those climbs, providing a rare look inside the adrenaline-charged world of competitive climbing in Yosemite Valley. He tells of his very first attempt on the Nose, which ended in failure after 14 hours, his friendships (and rivalries) with climbing’s most colorful personalities, and his battle with Dean Potter to secure the definitive speed record on the Nose—an endeavor that’s been called the wildest competition known to man. Perhaps most interestingly, Florine attempts to answer the question why. Why would anyone undertake one of the greatest adventure epics on earth 100 times? His answers provide unique insights on how to live a satisfying life, how to achieve big goals, and how an otherwise ordinary guy can become a rock star.