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Half Dome
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Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome 
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Southwest Face, The 
Two Hoofers 

The Southwest Face 

5.10

   
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FA: John Salathé & Anton Nelson, 1946
Type: Trad
Consensus: 5.10 [details]
Length: 7 pitches, 800 feet, Grade IV
Views: 370 page views

Submitted By: Doug Hemken on Jun 19, 2008


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BETA PHOTO: The lower pitches of the Southwest Face route.


Description 

The first modern climbing route on Half Dome, and the first grade V in Yosemite.

Freed in about 1964 by Sacherer, Kamps, and Lichtman, this climb was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but fell out of favor with the rise of clean climbing. With recent advances in clean gear, the protection is again reasonable (G to PG) with the exception of the belay stations.

The topo and photo in Reid are excellent.


Location 

About 400 feet to the left of "Snake Dike", and just left of "Blond Ike."


Protection 

Standard rack to 4", plus extra micro nuts and micro cams.



Add Photo Photos of The Southwest Face
Stephen Schmid & Andy Davis tearing down the third belay station. (2004)

Stephen Schmid & Andy Davis tearing down the third...

Andy with a grin. (2004)

Andy with a grin. (2004)


Add Comment Comments on The Southwest Face
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By George Bell
From: Boulder, CO
Jun 20, 2008

Thanks for adding this, Doug! A friend of mine has an epic story of climbing this with a beginner. Something about marginal anchors and lots of hanging on the rope.

"the protection is ... reasonable ... with the exception of the belay stations."

This doesn't sound too good ... is there any way to split up the piches so the anchors are better?