The rain came suddenly to the top of El Capitan. Spring brings sudden weather changes and drenching thunderstorms sweep into Yosemite Valley in a few hours. The intense rain, hail and lightning in the mid to late afternoon can cause serious hazard for climbers. The past week caught me in thunderstorms on the top of […]
Adventure comes in hundreds of ways in Yosemite. Most of the time, the fun starts when something essential is forgotten. Leaving the head lamp, the water, or the topo can all lead to more adventure than planned. This fall taught me the importance of bringing and following the directions on a route. Stoner’s Highway climbs […]
By Hans Florine This weekend I headed out at 5:45 am Sunday morning from the stables parking lot with the goal of climbing The South Face of Mt Watkins with friends Will and Naomi. Between ‘reading’ descriptions from The Super Topo guide and Yosemite Bigwalls guide by Erik and Roger, we figured that we would be […]
By Hans Florine This weekend I headed out at 5:45 am Sunday morning from the stables parking lot with the goal of climbing The South Face of Mt Watkins with friends Will and Naomi. Between ‘reading’ descriptions from The Super Topo guide and Yosemite Bigwalls guide by Erik and Roger, we figured that we would be […]
World renowned for its immense glacial polished granite, Yosemite is the mecca for rock climbers. For nearly two centuries, from the days of scrambling peaks in the Sierra to the cutting edge free climbing on El Capitan, the cliffs of Yosemite National Park have set the standards for climbing. Warren Harding topping out on the […]
My toes dangled over the ledge. I pushed against the tiny sidewalk and shuffled with my back against the wall, staring at the 2,000 foot drop. I fought into a chimney at the end of the narrow “Thank God Ledge.” A few more feet and I’d be done being scared, I hoped. In June of […]
We’re lucky to be able to surround ourselves with climbers. Turns out that whole “by climbers, for climbers”, thing really rings true. Therefore it is not unusual to see a familiar face in the headlines of climbing publications. This winter, Berkeley Ironworks desk staffer Ben Steel appeared in Rock and Ice. Last month, Luke Stefurak […]
The spring season brings longer days and bigger plans for many climbers. Moving faster and more confidently on big days requires a bit of strategy, planning and preparation. If you’re getting ready for a big Yosemite climb, here are a few tips to make things move smoother. Fuel Well– Many climbers eat big dinners the […]
When you ask Hans Florine what’s his favorite route in the world, the question is rhetorical. Hans Florine is Mr. Nose. With 100 ascents of the route up the longest section of El Capitan, Florine set the speed record on the formation with a blisteringly fast 2 hours 23 minutes 46 seconds. He’s also climbed […]
We’re proud to be a climbing company made up of…climbers! Ben Steel, a coach and desk staffer at Berkeley Ironworks, recently made headlines with his climbing partner Luke Stefurak in Yosemite. By Andrew Hewitt. Originally published in Rock and Ice. Tick off another 2013 FFA on one of Yosemite’s last free-climbed faces: Liberty Cap. Last […]
