Aid Route, Swan Slab 5.11b

  
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Yosemite Valley, California USA

  • Currently 4.0/5
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Summary of All Ratings

SuperTopo Rating:   
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  • 5
  (4.0)
Average Customer Rating:   
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  (4.3)
Your Rating:     (none)
Rating Distribution
6 Total Ratings
5 star: 33%  (2)
4 star: 67%  (4)
3 star: 0%  (0)
2 star: 0%  (0)
1 star: 0%  (0)
steele

Trad climber
CA
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    Mar 7, 2008 - 11:01pm
had to french free the first 20' as I max out at 5.10c on lead. the rest of the climb took long runners and cams TCU to #3 Cams. really nice exposure, hand traversing and accessability.
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stella

climber
cali
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    Mar 9, 2008 - 07:05pm
Can also be done as one very long pitch, with a 60m rope.
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Sketchy John

Trad climber
Bay Shore, NY
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    Apr 28, 2008 - 06:46am
I climbed the start clean 2nd try by brushing the 4 holes and switching to downturned shoes. The Route protects well. Linkup is fantastic if you bring 20+ runners and save small stuff for the top :)
This is the most accessable line in the valley (heavy foot traffic). Expect to be accosted by the curious talkative tourist.
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Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California now Ireland
Apr 29, 2008 - 03:29am
 
This post isn't beta but this was my first aid route in the Valley (1972). I sort of feel bad now for nailing it but it was the thing to do back then.
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Sketchy John

Trad climber
Bay Shore, NY
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    Apr 29, 2008 - 09:13am
I would have loved a crack at it back in 1972 (i would have been 6). I have to wonder what this proud line looked like pre hammer.
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Simmeron

Trad climber
Reno, NV
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    Mar 18, 2010 - 05:28pm
This route is super fun and it was my first 10a in The Valley. Even the bolt ladder at the start was a blast. The topo shows four bolts and when we climbed it earlier this week it seemed the third bolt was missing. Still, if you can climb 10a face then it shouldn't be a problem.

We broke the climb into two pitches. Since the intermediate belay is above and to the left of the crack, it was exciting moving from the belay back to the crack for the second pitch. I found the sustained 5.9 climbing to be harder than the very short 10a section, which seemed to be just one big move between pin scars, then you can grab a bomber flake and it's pretty much over at that point.
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JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
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    Mar 19, 2010 - 12:08pm
I nailed the route well before 1972, and I can assure you that the scars were already there.

I prefer not to link the pitches. You not only get by with a smaller rack, the sling belay really isn't all that bad a place to be. In addition, that start (even if it's mostly French-freed) keeps the crowds away, compared with around the corner.

I definitely agree with the tourist comments, though. On Washington's Birthday weekend in 1972, we tried to free the first pitch, failed, and ended up doing several moves (and some of the second pitch) on aid. Before we finished, there were tourists bringing blankets and picnic baskets to watch us!

John
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Swan Slab - Aid Route 5.11b - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click to Enlarge
Photo: Chris McNamara
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