The Widow's Tears Area Climbing
Elevation: | 4,973 ft | 1,516 m |
GPS: |
37.70879, -119.66567 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 28,944 total · 151/month | |
Shared By: | Alexey Zelditch on Oct 22, 2009 · Updates | |
Admins: | Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.
Description
Most of the day in the shade. Consists from The Widow's Tears proper which is ice climbing area in some years in the winter and Tower of Cosmic Wind, which is about 300 yards right from The Widow's Tears. Tower of Cosmic Wind is on the Buttress which lead to Stanford point via Wind Chill. On this Tower located two stelar routes "Windjammer" and "Windfall".
Getting There
For Tower of Cosmic Winds
April 2025: Take highway 41 from the Valley floor toward Tunnel View. A GPX file has been added to the map on this page, so consult that for where to park for the start of the approach. If you have any doubts, it’s best to drive up toward Tunnel View until you have a clear view of the Tower of Cosmic Winds. The approach to “Windfall” and others begins directly downhill from the Tower. We parked at a small dirt pulloff on the south side of the road, but many options exist. From the road, bushwack toward the wall for 500ft (~10 mins) until an old road is reached. From here, you can access a vague talus field directly downhill from the Tower. The talus begins several hundred feet west of the creek formed by Widow’s Tears. Follow this for ~30 minutes uphill. At times the talus will end and then begin again. We found several cairns along the way. This will lead you to the climber’s right side of the Tower, where you can then traverse a ledge leftward and scramble to the base of Windfall.
For Widow’s Tears Proper
Per Alexey: For The Widow's Tears proper you walk directly up and than follow the bed of the creek. It will bring you to the base where one rope is fix.
2019: To reach Widow’s Tears proper for rock climbs during that season, I’d recommend following description to The Tower of Cosmic Winds then keep traversing left. Some may want a rope for this. We never did, but one could die if it’s taken lightly.
Classic Climbing Routes at The Widow's Tears Area
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