The Nose 5.14a or 5.9 C2

 
  • Currently 5.0/5
Search
Go

El Capitan


Yosemite Valley, California USA


Trip Report
A Yosemite 1984 retro trip report
Wednesday December 13, 2017 3:04am
top left corner top right corner
The Nose, Changing Corners
The Nose, Changing Corners
Credit: duncan
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Nine and a Half Hours: an early Nose in a Day ascent with Romain Vogler.

Alone - Off the wall, is about trying to solo Sunkist and coming unstuck. I’ve already written a little about the latter on here.

These two podcasts, put together by Wil Treasure for his Factor Two series, describe some Yosemite escapades in June and July 1984. They feature additional commentary from John Middendorf and Charles Cole, thanks to both for their contributions, which make the stories much richer than a monologue would have been.

A few years ago I randomly bumped into John at Joshua Tree. We enjoyed reminiscing, he remembered me arriving back in camp 4 mid afternoon after we had climbed The Nose but had assumed we'd jumared fixed lines on the first four pitches, a common practice then. I'd initially thought we'd be doing this too but Romain had other ideas. John’s take, on the recent speed record thread. This partially explains why our ascent was unreported at the time. I just assumed no-one was very interested, Yosemite speed-climbing was of little note in the 80s. Hans Florine's portrayal of his awareness of us in On The Nose may contain a certain amount of artistic licence!

Both stories have epilogues. I climbed The Nose again on 21st June 2014, 30 years later to the day. More spray, poorly disguised as a "how to" guide. In most ways it was the antithesis to 1984: meticulously planned and rehearsed, with a climbing partner of twenty years and hundreds of routes, far less cavalier and much slower (only just In A Day). It was still a great experience with a great person. I got back on Sunkist in 1996, soloing again. It took seven days, two just to get to the base of the chimney. With several big cams this was No Big Deal second time around. Being up on that golden headwall on my own was heavenly, especially after what had happened before.



  Trip Report Views: 1,903
duncan
About the Author
duncan is an occasional climber from London, UK.

Comments

Go
El Capitan - The Nose 5.14a or 5.9 C2 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click to Enlarge
The Nose—the best rock climb in the world!
Photo: Mark Kroese
Other Routes on El Capitan
El Capitan - Freerider 5.12D - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Freerider, 5.12D
El Capitan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

The Salathé Wall ascends the most natural line up El Cap.
El Capitan - Zodiac A2 5.7 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Zodiac, A2 5.7
El Capitan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1800' of fantastic climbing.
El Capitan - Salathe Wall 5.13b or 5.9 C2 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Salathe Wall, 5.13b or 5.9 C2
El Capitan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

The Salathé Wall ascends the most natural line up El Cap.
El Capitan - Lurking Fear C2F 5.7 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Lurking Fear, C2F 5.7
El Capitan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Lurking Fear is route number 1.
El Capitan - East Buttress 5.10b - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
East Buttress, 5.10b
El Capitan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

East Buttress with top of The Nose on left.
More routes on El Capitan