Mark Patterson nears the anchor atop Pitch 3. The pitch ends with fifty feet of offwidth-ish crack climbing (4-inches wide). Extra 3.5-4 inch gear allows this section to feel nice and cozy.

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > P. Cathedral Area > 6. Middle Cathe… > Central Pillar of Frenzy (5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a)

Mark Patterson nears the anchor atop Pitch 3. The pitch ends with fifty feet of offwidth-ish crack climbing (4-inches wide). Extra 3.5-4 inch gear allows this section to feel nice and cozy.

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Kelly Kurtz on Central Pillar of Frenzy (5.8+). Photo by Tony B., 5/09.

Matt Grieger climbs the spectacular 2nd pitch of Central Pillar of Frenzy, Yosemite.

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4.6 from 8 votes

Matthew Fienup

Nov 13, 2006

“Mark Patterson nears the anchor atop Pitch 3. The pitch ends with fifty feet of offwidth-ish crack climbing (4-inches wide). Extra 3.5-4 inch gear allows this section to feel nice and cozy.”

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Nearby Photos

Matthew Fienup using all of his 34-inch inseam, on P2 (make that P4!) of the Central Pillar. Photo by Linda Patterson.

Jon Graham nears the anchor on the Central Pillar of Frenzy's CLASSIC second pitch.<br>
www.EarthworksImagery.com

If you arrive late to the base, bring entertainment, because you'll be waiting a while. (we finished a three person game of scrabble after arriving at 9am)

Matthew Fienup, P2 of the Central Pillar. Photo by Linda Patterson.

Hillary styling up the beautiful 4th pitch of central pillar of frenzy

Two Japanese ladies at the little roof. Both looked to be in their late 60s if not 70s.

Start of pitch 1 on the right facing corner

Doug Robinson leading pitch 2.

Kelly Kurtz on Central Pillar of Frenzy (5.8+). Photo by Tony B., 5/09.

Mark Patterson nears the anchor atop Pitch 3. The pitch ends with fifty feet of offwidth-ish crack climbing (4-inches wide). Extra 3.5-4 inch gear allows this section to feel nice and cozy.

Matt Grieger climbs the spectacular 2nd pitch of Central Pillar of Frenzy, Yosemite.

Second shot of the Japanese grandmas as the leader is about to go over the little roof.

High-res photo of Central Pillar, taken from El Cap in June 2017.

Route Overlay Central Pillar of Frenzy.

Walking from camp 4

Splitter Fist jams

Pitch 3

Stephan and Otto with the classic view of El Cap at the top of pitch 5

Walking from camp 4

huggg that fridge - money pitch after money pitch

Meant to text these two this photo but never got their numbers. Didn't really want to climb this route on this day because I had climbed this route so much in the past. But if you wait twenty years and climb it will be every bit as good as the first time.

First 3 pitches of Central Pillar of Frenzy

Nathan finishing up the second pitch of CPF over fall colors on a perfect November afternoon.

Michael through the short, easy chimney on the fifth pitch of CPF.

Belay from the snow hole. We were able to tunnel to the start rather than go from the edge of the snow.

The approach in mid-april = snow pile

Central Pillar of Frenzy

looking up at the climb from the base of 'central pillar of frenzy'

Following the P3 wide section.

My dad taking in the exposure

Central Pillar of Frenzy - looking up at the Pitch 3 roof

Hale sending p5 in camouflage while a party waits to rap (taken in EC meadow)

Mark Patterson displays the fruits of his labor, after completing the Central Pillar of Frenzy.

Steve killing it

manny s. leading the second pitch of 'central pillar of frenzy' as the sun peaks over middle cathedral rock

In the flare on P1

Mario and Julio do Brasil

Sedric following the stellar second pitch

Kelly Kurtz follows up the 3rd pitch of the Central Pillar of Frenzy, 5.8+. Photo by Tony B, 5/09.

looking down from the top of the first pitch of 'central pillar of frenzy'

john schaefer on p1

My dad on the dual cracks

Scottish climber rapping, viewpoint from the anchors of P2

Will from England cruising the gorgeous OW on pitch 3

Aris doing some serious stretching on the first (or was that the second?) pitch.

YOSAR with a litter dangling below.

You can barely see them, but there is a person leading in the white shirt and the second is in the grey shirt on the second pitch of the Central Pillar. Little old grandmas from Japan who couldn't be younger than mid, if not late 60s.

Veronica on the outstanding P2

The "Double Crack" Section of pitch 4.

Start of the route, as shot straight-on April 23, 2013. Jason Albino gearing up for the Lead at the top of the snowfield right below the start. If you're climbing this in late winter/early spring, this is probably the only spot at the wall base that you'll find snow.

overhang

Mustafa following and Yaman leading the awesome 2nd pitch of Central Pillar of Frenzy

My dad, stoked on his first climb in the Valley

Trav cleaning the best pitch of the route.

If rapping with a 70m. This is the first set of hangers that are hard climbers left from the top of pitch 5.

Japanese climber in red, YOSAR helicopter in action to the left.

P3 after pulling the roof. Into the OW section where I bumped my remaining #4 for ~60-70 ft until I neared the chains.

Kia leading pitch 3 roof on Central Pillar of Frenzy

This is the first rappel. Diagonal left to anchor on arete with chains. A 60m rope apparently makes it, but with not much to spare.

Jay Bettencourt following the wide section above the roof on the 3rd pitch (Fall, 2002)

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