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Midnight Lightning 

V8

   
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Type: Boulder
Consensus: V8+ [details]
FA: Ron Kauk, 1978
Submitted By: Peter Franzen on Jun 21, 2006

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (18)
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John Bachar on "Midnight Lightning". 1982.
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Description 

What can you say about such a classic boulder problem that can possibly do it justice? First sent by Ron Kauk who worked it for over two months in 1978 with fellow hardman John Bachar, this line up the Columbia Boulder stands as a true milestone in modern rock climbing.

People have rated this from V7 to V9, and if you can't mantle it's going to feel downright impossible.

Start on the series of polished opening crimps, fire a right hand up to a good undercling crimp, move the left hand up, and then get ready to fly out to the Lightning Bolt hold with your feet kicking in the air (although if you're over 6ft. or so it can be done as a static move). The bottom moves are powerful but it's the infamous mantle that will throw most suitors back down into the dust. Trust your spotter and believe...


Location 

Right in Camp 4. Look for the chalked lightning bolt on the rock. You can't miss it.


Protection 

Crashpad, spotter



Photos of Midnight Lightning Slideshow Add Photo
Kurt Smith, 1985. <br />No pads or spotters! <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Kurt Smith, 1985.
No pads or spotters!
Photo by Bl...


Jerad Friedrichs on Midnight Lightning

Jerad Friedrichs on Midnight Lightning

Unknown climber falling off midnight Lightning

Unknown climber falling off midnight Lightning

John Bachar, 1980? <br />Photo by Bob Gaines.

John Bachar, 1980?
Photo by Bob Gaines.


Bob Horan on Midnight Lightning.

Bob Horan on Midnight Lightning.

Another shot of the kid, 1987 <br /> <br />photo by bob gaines

Another shot of the kid, 1987

photo by bob gaines


Brad Gobright tops out.

Brad Gobright tops out.

Gary Reno

Gary Reno

Gary Reno

Gary Reno

First crux. October 2011.

First crux. October 2011.

Midnight Lightning

Midnight Lightning


Comments on Midnight Lightning Add Comment
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By Craig Childre
From: Lubbock, Texas
Jan 2, 2008

"In 1980, Jon Frank was the first Oklahoma climber to go to Yosemite Valley. . . The locals were amused to see Oklahoma plates pull into their parking lot, and when Jon opened his mouth the amusement turned to laughter.

"Gol-ly!" said Jon. "Look at those boulders!"

He eventually got to within one or two moves of the top of Midnight Lightning, the most notorious--and visible--boulder problem in Yosemite and one that still has only half a dozen ascents. The snickers subsided." - Oklahoma Rock by Doug Robinson

Part of Oklahoma's climbing history...this is one of the more famous boulder problems...probably due to the fact that it was the first to achieve some respect for their climbers who happily returned later

"But they had left their mark on Yosemite, the climbers' arena. This past spring, Rick McUsic and three of Oklahoma's younger climbers--the next generation--pulled into the climbers' parking lot. Seeing the Oklahoma plates, a few of the normally jaded locals held back respectfully for a few moments, then rushed over to greet the newcomers, eager for news of Duane and the boys."

By Adam Stackhouse
Administrator
Mar 25, 2008

Video of a climber falling then pushing through the mantle.

By Jasin Nazim
Dec 2, 2008

For ultimate beta on camp 4 check out Corey Rich's Photosynth with national geographic:
adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/yosemite/midnight-l>>>

with millions of images you can check out the big picture and the tiniest crimp in 3d.

Its pretty cool stuff

By Andy Liu
From: Bay Area, CA
Oct 10, 2011

By John Martin
From: Kearns, UT
Mar 24, 2012

By skinny legs and all
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 8, 2013

First female ascent by Lynn Hill, though she used a toprope to suss the moves. I bet this problem has seen less than a dozen female ascents. I think Alex Johnson has done it, as well as Thomisida Pidgeon. Does anyone know of any other females who have done it?

By Matt Haig
Apr 23, 2013