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Washington Column
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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
Astroman 
Electric Ladyland  
Jo Jo  
Mideast Crisis 
Power Failure 
Prow, The 
Re-Animator, The 
Skull Queen 
South Face 
Southern Man 
Ten Days After 
Unsorted Routes:

Washington Column 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 4,000'
Lat, Long: 37.7479, -119.5601 Map
Page Views: 147,570. Good page? (2 likes)   
Administrators: M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Josh Janes on Jun 15, 2006

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What's New
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A long way to go...

Description 

Washington Column stands at the eastern end of the Valley, on the north side. Supposedly, it was so named because from some point of view, the rock appears to look like George Washington.

The most popular routes on this formation are the South Face (5.7 A1), many climber's first-time big wall, and Astroman (5.11c), the world-famous free route on the east face. In recent years, other routes like Skull Queen (5.8 C2) have gained in popularity.


Getting There 

The Column is found on the east end of the Valley, just east of the Ahwahnee Hotel. It used to be you could park at the Ahwahnee and hoof over to the Column on the bike path, but I've heard recently that you can't park there anymore (permit req'd?). Maybe someone can post up the current beta...


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Washington Column:
South Face   5.8 C1     Trad, Aid, 11 pitches, 1200 feet   
Skull Queen   5.8 C2     Trad, Aid, 12 pitches, 1200 feet, Grade V   
The Prow   5.8 C2-3     Trad, Aid, 12 pitches, 1200 feet, Grade V   
Jo Jo    5.10b/c     Trad, 1 pitch, 85 feet   
Astroman   5.11c     Trad, 10 pitches, 1000 feet, Grade IV   
Browse More Classics in Washington Column

Featured Route For Washington Column
Henry Lester leading the Enduro Corner.

Astroman 5.11c  CA : Yosemite National Park : ... : Washington Column
This is what it's all about, pitch after pitch of demanding, ultra high quality climbing on excellent stone w/ a surpassing view. Almost all the pitches would be highly sought after if they were base routes and three or four would be mega classics. If you don't think this climb is great, either you're just being contrary or you need to find another sport.Bibliographic Note 1: SuperTopo.com has an excellent free topo download for this climb that most will find more useful than the following rou...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of Washington Column Slideshow Add Photo
"Space Case" 5.10c. A short route at the base of the Column. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

"Space Case" 5.10c. A short route at the base of t...

Washington Column and North Dome. <br />Photo By Blitzo.

Washington Column and North Dome.
Photo By Blitzo.


Little Rattle Snake on the approach to Washington Column (5/11/07). Photo by Dan Schuerch.

Little Rattle Snake on the approach to Washington ...

Pitch 5

Pitch 5

Dinner Ledge

Dinner Ledge

Kor Roof

Kor Roof

Boulering near the base of Washingtons Column

Boulering near the base of Washingtons Column

The Column, viewed from the Death Slabs under Half Dome

The Column, viewed from the Death Slabs under Half...

the next morning

the next morning

Sunrise on Washington Column

Sunrise on Washington Column

Travis Strong organizing the belay, P4 of "Skull Queen". El Cap in the distance.

Travis Strong organizing the belay, P4 of "Skull Q...

Looking at Washington Column from my tent steps on a foggy day.

Looking at Washington Column from my tent steps on...


Comments on Washington Column Add Comment
Show which comments
By Osprey
From: ...
May 3, 2010

Perfect winter aid routes on the south side. This wall dries up quicker than you would think after a February snow storm.

It is possible for a motivated party to climb Southern Man, South Face , and Skull Queen with in one sunny winter week with out seeing another party the entire time.