Loose blocks at the end of the "new" traverse. Avoid these and climb up short easy lie-back to gain the old route.

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > H. Royal Arches… > Royal Arches > Central Royal A… > Royal Arches (5.10- o… (5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a A0)

Loose blocks at the end of the "new" traverse. Avoid these and climb up short easy lie-back to gain the old route.

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Barry on pitch one.

Brenda cleaning the belay station just above the fixed pendulum. Note the water on the rock in the foreground -- it was pretty wet up there, and Half Dome in the background.

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Yosemite Climbing Rangers

Jun 7, 2023

“Loose blocks at the end of the "new" traverse. Avoid these and climb up short easy lie-back to gain the old route.”

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Nearby Photos

Back in the day...when the "rotten log" was in place on the traverse 11th pitch. Kevin Sargent crawling across. Royal Arches

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Topo showing pitches 5 through 15 of the Royal Arches Route (5.7). A true classic. Most of the route is clean and pretty straight forward. Just follow the chalk, fixed gear, and other climbers. Although it can get crowded, it's a worthwhile climb.

Looking down valley from Arches.

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Soloing on Royal Arches on a linkup with Crest Jewel Direct. This is a pitch or two above the traverse, I believe.

This shows the scale of the climb. Inside the red "O" at the top center are two climbers at the 15th pitch anchors which is the first rappel station.

Soloing on Royal Arches on a linkup with Crest Jewel Direct. This is somewhere around mid-route, pitch 8 or so. Fun 5.8 handcrack.

Royal Arches & North Dome Gully descent. Bivy at p16 offers a wide rest area with a clean spring for a water. Do not do the descent at night, even if you have headlamps! There are lots of dummy trails and a clear view of North Dome helps a lot

3 unknown parties running a conga line up royal arches on the morning of October 16th 2022

Full value 16th pitch.

Topo Page 2 Updated (2020)

Myself seconding the Lower slab exit. 5.4 fright that only Yosemite can provide.

Glad to be on Pebble Beach after leading the pitch 8 offwidth crack. Incredible day.

Second-to-Last Arches Rap - Better Way

Barry on pitch one.

Loose blocks at the end of the "new" traverse. Avoid these and climb up short easy lie-back to gain the old route.

Brenda cleaning the belay station just above the fixed pendulum. Note the water on the rock in the foreground -- it was pretty wet up there, and Half Dome in the background.

View from "the beach"; a sandy ledge and great lunch spot right below the pendulum.

View of Little Yosemite Valley and the Apron from the lower end of the route, upper traverse was totally covered in pine needles

This is a photo of the 13th rap station that is difficult to find after the scramble down. This is next to it looking back up the scramble. Hope this helps others find it faster than we did. (Light red circle in the shade are the bolts.

2024 Rappel Route Topo - see comments for link to high res PDF

The perfect 5.7 hand crack variation to pitch 7 instead of the 5.5 offwidth. Much better option!

Hand crack on 6 or 7 pitch

Orchids at the top out

My partner Jeff on Pitch 15 of the Royal Arches.

Twin 70m Rap Beta for RA rap route, annotated to Sloan's topo

Ray on p1

Royal Arches

Royal Arches Rappel Route topo

Pitch after first long ramp, May 2008.

Crossing this slab is the final pitch of the route.

Learning how to crack climb through a bomber directional

Easy climbing in the valley

Somewhere between the 7th and 11th rap station, this station has a sketchy bolt on the left. Hanger is loose and looks small and puny. I have reported to safeclimbing.org but wanted to inform those contemplating a rap descent.

Daren coming up to the ledge below the slab crux/pendulum pitch...

Looking down at my partner Daren on the upper section of Royal Arches...

Rappeling Royal Arches

after a wonderful day on the rock with a very special friend.

Oh the sweet sweet belay stances on this climb give me life!

What the traverse can look like in early spring. It still goes even when wet!

Eric at the pendulum

Ray os'ing the runout slab to crack

The Traverse after the crux/pendulum pitch...Half Dome in the background...

Chuck Konopa leading the 5.7 pin scar variation pitch 1 by headlamp. It's east of the chimney and we found it more aesthetic.

Jeff leading Pitch 14 of the Royal Arches.

Travis Strong enjoying the top of the Royal Arches. September 11'

taken from the belay after the pendulum. climbers in the photo are on pitch 8.

The Rotten Log again before it fell down. We were debating whether to put a sling around the log, in case I fell off. The A1 pendulum moves are classic !

Start of pitch one, Royal Arches

the swing

Climbing Pitch 3 of the Royal Arches with over 1000 feet of climbing above. Sweet!

Having fun on Royal Arches

The block with the rope stacked on it is the largest portion of the ledge that failed!

Scoping out the traverse on pitch 16

New traverse after pendulum on nice edge/ledge.

Looking across at the pendulum on pitch 9.

The final slab traverse before heading on down!

View of El Cap and Yosemite Valley Midway Up on Royal Arches

The optional pendulum section on Royal arches

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