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First trip to Yosemite...which guidebook?

Original Post
Pete Murphy · · Providence, RI · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 5

Hello! Going to Yosemite for the first time. Likely climbing in the 10a and under range and wondering what others find to be the best guidebook for your first time there. Likely focusing on just classics. Thanks 

John Clark · · Board, Garage, House · Joined Dec 2022 · Points: 0

Mountain project and people in parking lots

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 669

Are you going to be climbing in the Valley or Tuolumne? They have totally separate guidebooks.

Assuming the Valley, I think the SuperTopo is nicer for a short trip hitting the easy classics. It's old and out of print but maybe you can find it in stock at a climbing gym somewhere.

The Sloan guidebook is way more complete, but also has less detail and is generally worse. It surprisingly also seems out of print, but the PDF version is great and only $10:
https://rockclimbingyosemite.com/product/2020-ebook-rock-climbing-yosemite-valley-revised-edition-downloadable-pdf/

Terry E · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 43
Austin Donisan wrote:

….Assuming the Valley, I think the SuperTopo is nicer for a short trip hitting the easy classics. It's old and out of print but maybe you can find it in stock at a climbing gym somewhere…

The Supertopo guide books are also downloadable as .pdfs:

http://www.supertopo.com/packs/tuolfree.html

http://www.supertopo.com/packs/yofreeclimbs.html

http://www.supertopo.com/packs/yosemite-sport-climbs-top-ropes.html

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100

If climbing 10 and below, this book will be good enough

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Allen Sanderson wrote:

If climbing 10 and below, this book will be good enough

Show off! :)

Pete Murphy · · Providence, RI · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 5
Austin Donisan wrote:

Are you going to be climbing in the Valley or Tuolumne? They have totally separate guidebooks.

Assuming the Valley, I think the SuperTopo is nicer for a short trip hitting the easy classics. It's old and out of print but maybe you can find it in stock at a climbing gym somewhere.

The Sloan guidebook is way more complete, but also has less detail and is generally worse. It surprisingly also seems out of print, but the PDF version is great and only $10:
https://rockclimbingyosemite.com/product/2020-ebook-rock-climbing-yosemite-valley-revised-edition-downloadable-pdf/

Probably not Tuolumne it’ll be later in the fall and I’ve heard it will likely be closed by then or too cold 

Alex C · · San Francisco · Joined Nov 2016 · Points: 5

Weirdly, Walmart has the Supertopo in stock: walmart.com/ip/Yosemite-Val…

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100
Alex C wrote:

Weirdly, Walmart has the Supertopo in stock: walmart.com/ip/Yosemite-Val…

Sold and shipped by Mountain N Air Sports, Inc.

Pete Murphy · · Providence, RI · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 5
Allen Sanderson wrote:

Sold and shipped by Mountain N Air Sports, Inc.

Thanks for the tip! Just snagged one 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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