During the heat of the summer, the Yosemite Valley climbers find a million different ways to fill their time. On the left side of El Capitan, in the alcove where Sea of Dreams starts, a rope is sometimes strung to the lip of the cave. The climbers then take a huge pendulum swing out of the cave. Check out the movie that was made of the swing.

The Swing from Erik Sloan on Vimeo.

Labels: Alcove Swing, El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

Firefighters in Yosemite National Park have made significant progress towards containing the the wildfire that began as a prescribed burn and has destroyed over 7,000 acres. With an estimated containment rate of 70%, NPS anticipates the blaze to be fully contained by Thursday, September 10. Currently, Highway 120 from Crane Flat to White Wolf is closed and Big Oak Flat is also closed. Tuolumne Meadows is only accessible from the east gate and Yosemite Valley is only accessible through the Highway 140 and 41 entrances. All road closures will remain in affect through Labor Day weekend.

The fires have caused a significant amount of smoke in the Valley.


View from Ahwahanee Meadow


View from Turtleback Dome

Find further updates on the fire here.

Labels: Yosemite Fires, Yosemite National Park

If you're a fan of El Capitan, and Yosemite National Park in general, this little bit of news will most likely interest you. As you know, some of the best climbing in the entire country can be had in Yosemite Park and the one jewel of it's crown is El Capitan. Some of the most impressive climbing feats in the last 30 years have been completed right here, and so a chance to get an up-close and personal look at the place is great.

Word is that the ElCap Report now has it's very own blog filled with information, reports, and yes, pictures of this great place. This is a one-stop shop to read up about climbers and their amazing El Cap exploits, as well as take in some photographic proof at just how impressive this place really is.

So, feel free to go check it out and read up about one of climbings most impressive locations. Great way to get inspired to climb at your peak potential, great way to get inspired to just get better. Who knows, we might see you on the site next!

Labels: El Capitan, Touchstone Climbing, Yosemite, Yosemite National Park

Hello and Happy Friday! Here's hoping that your New Year's Day was amazing and that 2009 is already treating you kind! I don't know about you, but personally, I'm ready for a weekend, all of the Holiday action has worn me out and I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with doing as little as humanly possible. That said, I figured a perfect way to kick off that sort of weekend, is by watching someone Else strain themselves to the limit.

For your viewing pleasure this fine Friday, I found a great Climbing Clip of the Week that you might just find interesting. How about "Nose in a Day" in Yosemite? Yeah, thought you might perk up at that. There is some great climbing in this video, and what's more, it just makes you want to do it too, despite how Holiday Exhausted you might be.

That said, we'll be back, energetic and filled with even more great information on Monday. Spend this weekend doing whatever you need to do to recover and recuperate from what was most likely a tiring Holiday week! Enjoy the Climbing Clip of the Week and we'll see you Monday!

Labels: Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Movie, The Nose, Yosemite National Park

It doesn't matter how often you climb, how many days a week you manage to make it into one of our gyms, how many indoor ascents you've completed...the fact is, Eventually you're going to want to challenge a real rock, outside, in the elements. That said, where do you go?!

I just found a pretty awesome article that goes over the 10 best rock climbs in the entire United States. It doesn't matter where you are, you're not too far from some amazing climbing. Without further ado, here, according to MSNBC, are 10 of the best rock climbs in the USA!

1. The Nose - Yosemite National Park, CA.
2. The Naked Edge - Eldorado Canyon, CO.
3. Casual Route - Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
4. Royal Arches - Yosemite National Park, CA.
5. East Face of Monkey Face - Smith Rock, OR.
6. Skyline - City of Rocks, ID.
7. Amazon Woman - Quartz Mountain, OK.
8. East Face of Keeler Needle - CA.
9. East Face Direct Route - First Flatiron, CO.
10. Becky Route/Fine Line - Elephant's Perch, ID.

Climbed any of these? Have photos to prove it? Stories? Send them in! We'd love to hear about, talk about, and show off what our Touchstone Climbers have been up to! Get on it!

(Image via smif on Flickr)

Labels: California, City of Rocks, Quartz Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, Top 10 Climbs, Yosemite National Park

This event, my good climbing friends, is one you will NOT want to miss. December 3rd, only a little over a week away, is rapidly approaching and each and every one of you in the Great Western Power Company area should be marking it down on your calendar. Why, you ask? Simple, STORY NIGHT with Hans Florine.

Yep, you heard right. December 3rd at 8:00 pm the official storytelling and presentation begins, my advice, come early to get in some climbing so you're completely in the groove come story time. Here is some more information you need to know, to be in the know:

December 3rd come for a night of Stories about one thing: The Nose.

The first story telling of the new Nose record. (Yuji Hirayama and Hans climbed it in 2:37:05 on October 12th 2008) Hans Florine will share an evening with you at: The Great Western Power Company. With the aid of video clips and photos Hans will tell stories about Yuji Hirayama and Hans's preparations, history, planning, drama, training, and execution of climbing The Nose Route of El Capitan, the 3000ft granite cliff in Yosemite.

Touchstone Climbing is hosting the event at:
http://touchstoneclimbing.com/gw.html

Touchstone had 150 limited edition photographic prints made to commemorate 50 years of climbing The Nose route. These prints are for sale at: www.speedclimb.com/50th. We will try to reserve some to auction at the December 2/3rd event. If you want to guarantee there is one there for you, buy it online and put in the notes section of the checkout that you'll pick it up at the December 2/3rd event. (or say nothing and we'll ship it)

Light refreshments and drinks will be available. A $16 admission fee will be charged for non Touchstone climbing members. Funds raised during the event will go to benefit the Access Fund and the YCA - which created the Climbing museum in Yosemite.

There you have it, mark it down and we'll see you there!

On a separate, unrelated note, I just wanted to remind each and every one of you, members of all the different Touchstone Climbing Gyms, that all of our Touchstone Gyms will have special, Holiday Hours on Wednesday, and Friday before and after Thanksgiving. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but give your local gym a call to see their hours for the days before and after!

(Image via Brianz on Flickr)

Labels: El Capitan, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Hans Florine, Rock climbing, Storytelling, Yosemite National Park, Yuji Hirayama