The Good, the Great, and the Awesome: The Top 40 High Sierra Rock Climbs
Product Description
Overview
Advantages
- Written by one of the most amazing and experienced High Sierra climbers (e.g. sub-24 hour tour of Evolution Traverse)
- Routes range from Class 2 to 5.11a and grades II-VI with the bulk of the book focused on grade III-IV moderates.
- Topos
- An entertaining read with history and humorous Croftesque tidbits
- Amenities listed for each of the E Sierra towns
- YDS rating and gear list in overview for each climb
- Mileage breakdown includes terrain type (e.g. cross-country v. trail)
Disadvantages
- Route descriptions may be a bit light on detail for some
- No color photos inside
Biased Opinion
This is a must have book for any E Sierra alpine climber. It lists some of the finest routes in my all-time favorite climbing location.
The Routes
Grade VI
- Palisade Traverse, 5.9**
- Evolution Traverse, 5.9***
- Minaret Traverse, 5.9***
- Sawtooth Traverse, 5.8*
Grade V
- Palisades (Temple Crag/Gayley/Sill), rating depends on route ***
- Dark Star on Temple Crag, 5.10c**
- Keeler Needle on Whitney, 5.10c*
- Positive Vibrations on the Incredible Hulk, 5.11a***
- SW Face of Conness, 5.10c**
Grade IV
- Sun Ribbon Arete on Temple Crag, 5.10a**
- Palisades (T-bolt to Sill), 5.9***
- Red Dihedral (aka Ygdrasil)on the Incredible Hulk, 5.10c***
- SW Face of Clyde Minaret, 5.8*
- Moon Goddess Arete on Temple Crag, 5.8*
- Venusian Blind on Temple Crag, 5.7***
- Matthes Crest, 5.7***
- Western Front on Russell, 5.10c**
- W Ridge of Conness, 5.6***
- Cathedral Traverse, 5.6*
- E Face Direct of Outguard Spire, 5.10d*
Grade III
- Mithral Dihedral on Russell, 5.10a**
- Fishhook Arete on Russell, 5.8**
- N Buttress on Goode, 5.9*
- S Face of Charlotte Dome, 5.8***
- Regular Route on Third Pillar of Dana, 5.10a**
- NE Gully of Laurel, 5.2**
- E Face of Whitney, 5.7***
- E Buttress of Whitney, 5.7***
- N Ridge of Lone Pine Peak, 5.5**
- N Arete on Bear Creek Spire, 5.8*
- E Arete on Humphreys, 5.5*
- N Ridge of Conness, 5.6**
- NE Ridge on Bear Creek Spire, Cl 4***
- SE Buttress of Cathedral, 5.7***
- E Face of Middle Palisade, Cl 3***
- E Chute of Basin, Cl 4*
Grade II
- Swiss Arete on Sill, 5.7***
- E Arete on Russell, Cl 3***
- N Arete of Crystal Crag, 5.7**
- NW Slope of Agassiz, Cl 2**
Images
Bill Kish - Aug 11, 2008 8:01 pm - Voted 5/5
one of my favorite sierra guidebooks