Soon after gaining the Crest

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Tuolumne Meadows > Cathedral Range > Matthes Crest > Matthes Crest Travers… (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b)

Soon after gaining the Crest

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climber on Matthes Crest

The reason we're doing all this

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4.8 from 24 votes

Dustin Clelen

Mar 28, 2009

“Soon after gaining the Crest”

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Nearby Photos

Michelle on the step across (photo by Daniel)

Roddy, Carlos, & Matt on the Matthes Crest.

Nearing the South summit on the Mathes Crest traverse

the full traverse

climber on Matthes Crest

Soon after gaining the Crest

The reason we're doing all this

Climbers on the north tower.

Matthes from 13,500 ft. June 16, 2008.

Pablo on fun part of a ridge

Looking back at the North summit from the 2nd half of the traverse. You can see climbers contemplating their next cruxy downclimb. The section in the view is probably the most exposed and awkward stretch of the entire route - July 23, 2005

Panoramic, looking south. September 23, 2009.

Two guys free soloing Matthes Crest South to North.

Climbers on Matthess Crest<br>

Nearing the south summit climbing south to north.

pulling the 5.7 diagonal crack crux

Sunset finish

Camille fishing something out of her pack, near the beginning of Matthes Crest.

The recent re-visit of Matthes Crest reminded me of this outing from 2004. My partner surprised everyone around (myself included) by putting on this Spiderman suit when he started climbing. Plenty of photos already, but a first for Spiderman, maybe?

East face of Matthes Crest.

The view you get to enjoy after climbing Matthes Crest.

matthes crest in middle

Jake on The Matthes Crest Traverse.

The southern part of the traverse, from the west.

Matthes Crest from the North. Oct 2012

Pat makes his way up the North Pillar - one of the few, but excellent, class 5 sections of the route.

Chloe on matthes crest

"What have we done to deserve this? Michael Gordon chased by the white stuff, North Summit of the Crest, December 2002."

fall in Tuolumne

Duke with Conness in the background.

Looking North from near the Summit of Matthes Crest

Same stuff

Matthes crest

Ryan about to reach the N summit

the real final tower

The towers of Matthes.

Chloe following matthes crest

Matthes crest

J on one of the many easy ramps

What a ridge. Stegosaurus spine!

Kia standing on both summits at the same time.

antiques

Somewhere still near the south end.

looking toward Echo Peaks

Starting the traverse from the notch at the southern end using an alternate start--the crack farthest to the left of the normal route. This is a good alternative if the normal route is occupied. It's about 5.6.

Camille and I take a break on Matthes to watch Brian climb.

Two guys free soloing Matthes Crest South to North.

on the ridge proper

another view of the descent

Looking back from first little peak along the ridge. We weren't sure how often we would want a rope and pro. As it turns out, we did the first section as two long pitches and then unroped for the ridge. We used the ropes again to climb the 5.7 OW crack that leads up to the North Summit. For roped climbing in the future, I would bring a small rack (BD #0.5 - #2, with maybe a second #2) and a bunch of slings. We ended up leaving slings to rap b/c we couldn't find the station at the North Summit, sorry for littering.

Chloe on matthes

the wave

great route

Climber at top of north summit

snowy skies over the path ahead

The North Tower of Matthes Crest looking from the South Tower.

S summit views

Daniel almost through the crux section

towers

break

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