Nat Geo explores Yosemite’s climbing culture

by Kraig Becker on

Yesterday we posted a story on five ways to explore national parks without using a vehicle, and one of the items that made the list was a suggestion to go climbing in Yosemite National Park. As noted, Yosemite is one of the greatest climbing destinations in the world, with towering granite walls that attract the best climbers from across the globe, something that National Geographic discovered recently when they visited the place.

Writer Mark Jenkins went on assignment in Yosemite Valley for a cover story in the May issue of Nat Geo. While there, he discovered some amazing athletes pushing their skills to the limit on Half Dome and El Capitan, two of the most well known and iconic big walls in the rock climbing universe.

Chief amongst these athletes (NG calls them “superclimbers”) is Alex Honnold, a 23-year old who has made Yosemite his personal playground over the past few years. Back in 2008, he stunned the climbing community by free soloing the 2140-foot tall Half Dome. For the uninitiated, when someone free solos they are climbing with just their chalk bag and shoes, and no ropes of any kind. For an encore in 2010, Honnold tackled both Half Dome and the 3000-foot El Cap, back-to-back, in just 8 hours.Honnold isn’t the only great climber that frequents Yosemite however, and Jenkins found a number of them on his visit. He reports that one morning while walking through the park’s notorious Camp 4, a popular site for climbers, he heard over a dozen languages being spoken, which is a testament to how popular the region is with the rock climbing crowd.

Jenkins, who first climbed in the valley back in the 70’s, discovered that things have changed dramatically since he climbed there. He found that amongst today’s climbers, it is all about speed, and they’ll eschew certain gear, such as backpacks, helmets, and other items, just so they can move more quickly up the rock face. This is quite a departure from the old days, when climbing legend Royal Robbins first climbed Half Dome. Back in 1957, it took him, and his partner, five days to complete the route. Today, Honnold can do it solo in just a little over 2 hours.

The full National Geographic article is available online by clicking here. It offers some great insights into the climbing world, which can be a bit mystifying for those who don’t “get” it. The story is actually a good read for climbers and non-climbers alike, holding up well to Nat Geo’s usual high standards. The article is also accompanied by a gallery of great photos that were shot for the story by by Jimmy Chin, one of the best adventure photographers working today. They capture the spirit of climbing in Yosemite very well and can be found here.

[Photo credit: Mike Murphy via WikiMedia]

Climbing management plan in the works for Arches National Park

by Kraig Becker on

Arches National Park, located in eastern Utah, not far from Moab, is a very popular destination for climbers and hikers who come to explore the unusual rock formations and deep canyons. The park is famous for its more than 2000 natural rock arches carved out of the sandstone by millions of years of weathering and erosion.

The most famous of those formations is Delicate Arch, a 52 foot tall monument that actually appears on Utah’s license plates. The geological phenomenon seems aptly named, as even though it is made of rock, it is also easily damaged. This was illustrated all too clearly back in 2006 when rock climber Dean Potter scaled the Arch and his ropes left grooves in the sand stone face.The park service quickly responded by restricting climbing within the park, much to the dismay of the climbers who frequented the place.

Now, more than four years after Potter’s controversial climb, the park service is finally working on a formal plan to manage climbing within Arches. That plan has a few basic goals that include protecting the park’s natural resources for future generations to enjoy, while still allowing climbers access to those resources in a safe way that doesn’t damage the rock. The plan also strives to protect the plant and animal life in the park, while engaging the climbing community in a cooperative stewardship program that helps to protect those natural resources as well.

The management plan has a long way to go, as it has just entered the public scoping period in which the park service calls for input from the general public. Moving forward, they’ll also try to define a code of ethics for climbers in the park, clearly define routes, institute a permitting system, and plan out their rescue operations considerations, amongst a host of other issues.

Arches is indeed a spectacular destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking for amazing scenery while they hike or climb. This plan will ensure that visitors to the park will continue to have access to the great natural resources available there, while using them in a safe, ethical way. If you have an opinion on the direction that this plan should go, be sure to weigh in with your thoughts now. You’ll find more information on how to do just that by clicking here.

[Photo credit: Palacemusic via WikiMedia Commons]