Reddit reviews Yosemite Valley Free Climbs: Supertopos
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Authors: McNamara, et al.ISBN: 0967239141
Get a Supertopo climbing guidebook and look up the climber trails. These trails are unofficial climber maintained trails and are generally safe but more difficult hiking with frequent route finding by following rock stacks. The approaches to El Capitan, Washington Column, Glacier Point Apron, and Middle Cathedral offer some really great views most tourists don’t get to see. The hike to the base of Washington Column (look up the climb “Astroman”) puts you directly across from Half Dome. The hike up to El Cap (look up the climb “Pine Line”) is an easy 15 min walk. Once you get to the base of El Cap, go left and follow the base for 5 min. There is a gigantic ledge that looks strait up the Nose of El Cap. The Glacier Point Apron trail (look up the climb “The Grack”) starts at the parking lot across from Upper Pines campground and cuts into the forest to the base of Glacier Point. Once you get to the base, go left and follow it along the base.
Welcome to Yosemite!
First of all, do you trad lead? You have to be able to climb on gear to get the full favor of Yosemite climbing.
When are you going? At this time of the year the Valley can be really hot. Bring a lot of water. Or consider climbing at Tuolumne, which is much cooler.
Get your crack skills and friction climbing dialed. They are almost like prerequisites for climbing at the Valley.
A double set of cams up to #3 and single set of nuts should take you a long way. Single 60m rope is fine but having a second rope can sometimes be handy for rappelling.
Get the Supertaco guidebook... they are the best for first-time Valley climbers.
Camping is a bitch... I usually spend the nights somewhere in the national forest outside of the park.
Routes: you gotta be more specific about what you want to climb. Are you thinking about single pitch cragging? Short multipitch? Or all day adventurous routes?
These are mostly moderate climbs and great resources:
https://www.amazon.com/Yosemite-Valley-Free-Climbs-Supertopos/dp/0967239141
https://www.amazon.com/Tuolumne-Free-Climbs-Greg-Barnes/dp/0976523574