Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Messages 1 - 31 of total 31 in this topic |
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 23, 2009 - 10:48pm PT
|
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 23, 2009 - 10:56pm PT
|
Yeah, they are, and they're not mine but from here and the internet. It turns out that Half Dome is NOT the simple little half-sphere we tend to think of it as. Strange almost amoebic mass, isn't it?
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 10:56pm PT
|
Thanks Peter,
Amazing in definition how the lines flow on the rock....even how the snow lies. If one pushes the pause button of life and begins to focus on the beauty of nature/creation the enormity of its grandeur defines the true purpose of life and defies explanation.
Defies because it wants us to take the time to forget the getting and spending and begin to know the true purpose of the planet and life.....Yo, you live, enjoy and experience only one day at a time.
|
|
Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 10:59pm PT
|
Much more impressive formation from this aspect than the northwest face IMO.
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 23, 2009 - 11:07pm PT
|
Yeah, the NW face is not nearly as interesting visually and certainly the rock is gross too. Yes, Pate, a couple have been here before but quite awhile ago. I was going to do a massive photographic study of the back of Half Dome this summer but my best, super hi-res Nikon outfit (including five lenses) was burglared from my flat in SF back in June or so...My plan was to stay up in the area for a couple of days and catch it in all sorts of light and fire out a pile of ultra-huge files, partly for future routes (as obviously there are going to be some one day!) and partly for the shear astounding imagery it provides. What a wild summit Half Dome is.
El Cap is also not what you think it is from the ground; it too starts to go protean like Half Dome when seen from the air. Climbing on Half Dome's back and the SW face is spectacular.
|
|
Gene
Social climber
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:12pm PT
|
I don't know guys. All sides of 1/2 D are wonderful. Choosing the best is like picking your favorite kid.
|
|
Studly
Trad climber
WA
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:24pm PT
|
I think I see Hank's skid marks in photo 3.
|
|
hooblie
climber
"i used to care, but things have changed"
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:24pm PT
|
ya, well my favorite kid is sunlit, long, golden, laid back and nubbie!
|
|
mason805
Trad climber
East Bay, CA
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:30pm PT
|
I know this isn't exactly an aerial view but I had never gotten to see HD from this perspective and it brought it into a whole new light the way it towered above the valley floor to the left and the trails passing Vernal and Nevada falls on the right.
|
|
Ray Olson
Trad climber
Imperial Beach, California
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:31pm PT
|
I heard Half Dome got laid off because it's position was outsourced to China.
No unemployment insurance, nothin...
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 23, 2009 - 11:43pm PT
|
Amazing Jim, really, wow!!!!
|
|
S.Leeper
Sport climber
Austin, Texas
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:54pm PT
|
I love the different perspective. Which formation takes up more area, el cap or 1/2 dome?
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 23, 2009 - 11:55pm PT
|
NW face of Half Dome is about 2000 ft wide, so El Cap, Scott. But if you consider Half Dome is double-sided, it gets complicated.
|
|
F10
Trad climber
e350
|
|
Oct 23, 2009 - 11:57pm PT
|
Thanks for posting Peter,
Pretty amazing
|
|
Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 01:17am PT
|
Wow.
Amazing how you think you what something really looks like, but really I had no idea.
Outstanding!
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 09:41am PT
|
hey there say, peter hann... oh my, thanks for the fantastic veiws....
something we wonder about from the ground floor, never to say eyes on---we, as to me and my view.... :O
*also, thanks for all the rock-notes, that went with this subject, too...
very interesting.... :)
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 09:48am PT
|
Peter,
The rock on the NW Face is gross?
Now you've p*ssed me off.............HA!
Not everyone wants to climb on a giant slab, an ocean of nubbins and runouts.
I LIKE cracks you b*stard!
Thanks for the cool pics bro.
|
|
Studly
Trad climber
WA
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 09:49am PT
|
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2009 - 10:17am PT
|
No Survival, I love cracks more than oceans of nubbins too! I just meant that the Northwest face is kinda loose, has quite a lot of rockfall and is usually pretty granular and coarse. The granite that makes up the back of the dome is quite a bit harder and that area hasn't had any rockfall for god knows how long.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 01:56pm PT
|
Peter,
Of course, I knew exactly what you meant. But I also know that I will probably climb the FINE stone of the NW face a couple more times before I end up on the "back" side.
Unless you invite me out for a project......
|
|
Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2009 - 04:25pm PT
|
Great, Surviv, let's just go up there and doodle up some little ole line between Karma and Southern Belle. Three or four generations have studied it closely and of course missed the obvious giant horns, knobs, ledges, cracks and other abnormally huge features all over that area which you and I will be climbing on.
The Back is truly another quantum leap or two above current climbing. Kind of how Mescalito is going to go free soon perhaps. The micromanagement necessary to find a climbing path in the unbelievably sacred wall between Karma and the Belle will take place some day but when? Coming from above is likely to produce a terrible mess and maybe no route too. It is a huge problem and the prospect of numerous blank or false leads in that area is great. That is why we need some hi-res imagery back there. It is going to require voluminous study and planning; I even think there will be PAPERWORK carried on the first ascent.... you know, like description, photos, maps. Obviously it isn't going to be me climbing but the somewhat related project to photograph it is not a huge undertaking--- just a couple of days with the right lighting.
|
|
R.B.
Trad climber
AZ-WA
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 07:30pm PT
|
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
Oct 24, 2009 - 07:46pm PT
|
Yes Peter, I think you are right.
That wall is beyond my age, vision, desire, skill and pocketbook.
Other than that I've got it right where I want it!!
I prefer to haggle my way up something I know is there on the "front".
I have been so pleased with the exposure, climbing, scenery and vibe on the NW face. It suits me fine.
Edit: However, us seniors have been involved in exciting new things up there on the back. .
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
climber
. . . not !
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 02:03am PT
|
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 02:28am PT
|
Amazing definition!
|
|
Cpt0bvi0u5
Trad climber
Merced CA
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 04:53am PT
|
those are some great pictures. I am really impressed
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 08:36am PT
|
Very nice!
|
|
Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 11:04am PT
|
Wow, all great perspectives.
Hey ß Î Ø T Ç H
that is an amazing image, did you take it?
DD
|
|
Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 11:08am PT
|
I have long loved the backside. (pun MIGHT be intended.) But with the activity over the past years I wonder how long before a full-on sport camp is established back there and dozens of sport lines go in. Of course it's a long rap to put in the first bolt so maybe we will be safe from a complete grid-bolt fest. My call: LEAVE IT ALONE! unless you have the sac to do it ground up in good style. (Uh-oh... I smell a hornet's nest.) Follow the lead that Kevin W. did on Basket Dome: THAT is how it should be done!
|
|
Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
Oct 30, 2009 - 11:51am PT
|
A few years ago I had a chance to fly the backside (pun optional), and borrow a powerful camera for the trip. Only one light, early in the day, and it is not the one Peter alludes to, shooting right ahead of the shadow line as it creeps across the face. I have sat up on the rim of Little Yosemite with a spotting scope for that light show and grown all too optimistic in its wake. "10c Dude -- you could go anywhere on that wall at no more than 10c!" was the way Sean Jones put it that day, jumping up and down. Indeed, tiny features casting huge shadows looked like 8" knobs. The sober truth is a lot more severe.
Anyway, a couple of those shots:
One cool thing in this view is you can see how frighteningly steep is the walk-the-plank pitch on Karma, where it crossed the black streak.
This one is fun for the intersection of several routes. On Growing Up you can zoom in on the crux lieback, still in shadow, the dike shooting left out from under the arch (which pops out as you zoom), and get some detail of the crux traverse of the upper slab that goes back right above the lip of the arch.
Notice the double-overhanging slot that breaches the overhang on the Harding-Rowell route. In the shadow, but at least you get an idea of its position. Supposedly there's a ledge right above it -- hard to see.
The "Tri-Clops Eyes" are a good landmark, top center. Harding-Rowell hits the right one, Southern Belle the center. Below them you can pick out the "First Pothole Bivy." The two routes cross just to its right.
Southern Belle wanders in from the right. Supposedly the crux runout -- complete with Hank's skidmarks -- should be visible above the First Pothole and below the Middle Tri-Clops. But it's hard to pick out that line. Maybe a little help from the few who have been there?
|
|
Messages 1 - 31 of total 31 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|