How I choose to remember Half Dome

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > D. Half Dome > 1. Northwest Face > Regular Northwest Fac… (5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C1)

How I choose to remember Half Dome

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Leading up to Big Sandy!!!

Overlay of Regular NW Face on High Resolution Photo

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4.9 from 54 votes

Dustin Clelen

Mar 12, 2012

“How I choose to remember Half Dome”

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How I choose to remember Half Dome

Overlay of Regular NW Face on High Resolution Photo

On top after climbing the Regular NW Face<br>
Photo by Scott Bennett

Partner jugging up our icy rope after an overnight bivy in a snowstorm.

One of the pitches way up there<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

Nevada Falls on the Approach

JA Hero Climbing on P17.

The NW Face in afternoon light.

Thank God Ledge!<br>
Photo by Scott Bennett

A lazy afternoon at Big Sandy. Big Sandy is plenty big and multi-terraced; it makes a wonderful place to relax and watch the birds.

Nearing the end of Thank God Ledge.

Fun pitch way up high

After completing the El Cap / Half-Dome link-up. Half-Dome was completed in 13 hrs. and 15 minutes. Head-lamp was out mid-way, had to wait until the sun came back up. Great times.

Sun setting somewhere around pitch 8

Waking up on Big Sandy

Big granite, big aspirations...

Finishing the last pitch in perfect alpenglow (Photo: Bosier Parsons)

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) One of the bolts was missing a hanger (June 2017). This photo shows a climber (Alister) tying a sling on the bolt for protection.

Picture of the new bolt ladder bridging the gap where the P11 ledge fell off!<br>
Photo by JH.

Detailed photo showing the route taken by the NW Face of Half Dome Regular Route.

Looking back along Thank God Ledge

Thank God Ledge

Committing to the 5.9 optional free variation squeeze at the first of the chimney pitches. whoa nelly, HARD. No pro. I recommend taking either of the two alternates.

Behold the crazy tourist train. July '07

On Thank God Ledge (Aug., 2002).

Climbing the first Zig Zag pitch<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

Nearing Big Sandy Ledge, P17.

Climbing the pitch above the Higbee Hederal<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) Starting off the bolt ladder. This is a mix of pins and bolts.

Thank God Ledge, P21.

Hi-Rez version of the Free climbing topo

The line of four parties at the base, fall, 1980.

Bob Horan starting up Regular Route, circa 1978.

Not too bad of a bivy if you don't want to share Big Sandy (1 pitch below BS).

Steve Cox scrambling up the 4th class choss on pitch 9. Careful not to pull anything loose here.

Kevin Brown racing up the bolt ladder on pitch 10 just before the Robbins Traverse.

When the face first comes into view coming down from the shoulder, it inspires awe. And commands respect.

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) The goal is to get the knot wedged here, where Sam's toe is. Sam got it after about a dozen tries, and having watched Sam figure out the ideal technique, the leader from the party after us got it on his second toss. The rope toss eats up some time, but it is kind of fun, actually.

Training run up Half-Dome to rehearse movement, gear beta, free-climbing beta, etc. for the Link-Up.

Spectacular exposure on Thank God Ledge.

Looking up at pitch 13/14. Most of this is pretty casual to free, and awfully awkward to aid.

2024 Topo

Some of the best views in the valley!

Route Overlay for Regular NW Face Route as seen from base.

P22 bolt ladder topo (no second pendulum)

Route Overlay for Slabs approach.

Half Dome - Regular NW Face - finishing pitches

Brandi on the jugs for the Robbins bolt ladder during HDIAD.

Taken from anchor at top of P7, showing P8-P9 route to start of P10 bolt ladder

Half Dome NW Face Regular route - Free Topo

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) A view of the rope toss from above. I have started my lead of Pitch 13, and am looking down. My partner Sam is at the belay on the left and another climber (Alex) is doing the rope toss from the bolt in the C2 corner on the right. Yet another climber (Alister) is arriving at the bolt in the C2 corner. This pitch had taken awhile so we had a traffic jam of all three parties trying to get through it.

Thank God! June 1976.

Double Crack pitch, pure magic!

Chuck Wilfley Schlepping gear to the base. 1980.

Starting out on Robbins Traverse June 1976.

SC ace Buddy Brasington in the chimneys

New detailed Topo of the fallen Pitch of RNWF<br>
.5 Dome!<br>
Cannot verify the rating of the new features out right as we just investigated to see if it seemed it would even go, which it definitely will.<br>
The bolt ladder to pendulum that was started by Zach & Jack and finished by Howard & Myself is quite straightforward and will eventually also go free!!

Leading up the last pitch, underneath The Visor.

Big sandy ledge

Leading up to Big Sandy!!!

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