How I choose to remember Half Dome

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > D. Half Dome > 1. Northwest Face > Regular Northwest Fac… (5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C1)

How I choose to remember Half Dome

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One of the pitches way up there<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

Thank God Ledge!<br>
Photo by Scott Bennett

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4.8 from 58 votes

Dustin Clelen

Mar 12, 2012

“How I choose to remember Half Dome”

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Nearby Photos

Overlay of Regular NW Face on High Resolution Photo

On top after climbing the Regular NW Face<br>
Photo by Scott Bennett

JA Hero Climbing on P17.

Partner jugging up our icy rope after an overnight bivy in a snowstorm.

One of the pitches way up there<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

How I choose to remember Half Dome

Thank God Ledge!<br>
Photo by Scott Bennett

Nevada Falls on the Approach

The NW Face in afternoon light.

A lazy afternoon at Big Sandy. Big Sandy is plenty big and multi-terraced; it makes a wonderful place to relax and watch the birds.

After completing the El Cap / Half-Dome link-up. Half-Dome was completed in 13 hrs. and 15 minutes. Head-lamp was out mid-way, had to wait until the sun came back up. Great times.

Nearing the end of Thank God Ledge.

Fun pitch way up high

Waking up on Big Sandy

Sun setting somewhere around pitch 8

Big granite, big aspirations...

Finishing the last pitch in perfect alpenglow (Photo: Bosier Parsons)

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) One of the bolts was missing a hanger (June 2017). This photo shows a climber (Alister) tying a sling on the bolt for protection.

Picture of the new bolt ladder bridging the gap where the P11 ledge fell off!<br>
Photo by JH.

Climbing the first Zig Zag pitch<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

2025 Topo

Looking back along Thank God Ledge

Mo is all smiles at the end of Thank God Ledge, with a clear view to Medlicott and Conness, and a few thunder claps rumbling in the background.

Route Overlay for Slabs approach.

Committing to the 5.9 optional free variation squeeze at the first of the chimney pitches. whoa nelly, HARD. No pro. I recommend taking either of the two alternates.

Climbing the pitch above the Higbee Hederal<br>
photo by Scott Bennett

Detailed photo showing the route taken by the NW Face of Half Dome Regular Route.

Thank God Ledge

Spectacular exposure on Thank God Ledge.

Behold the crazy tourist train. July '07

Nearing Big Sandy Ledge, P17.

On Thank God Ledge (Aug., 2002).

Hi-Rez version of the Free climbing topo

Not too bad of a bivy if you don't want to share Big Sandy (1 pitch below BS).

Thank God Ledge, P21.

Double Crack pitch, pure magic!

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) Starting off the bolt ladder. This is a mix of pins and bolts.

Steve Cox scrambling up the 4th class choss on pitch 9. Careful not to pull anything loose here.

Kevin Brown racing up the bolt ladder on pitch 10 just before the Robbins Traverse.

Bob Horan starting up Regular Route, circa 1978.

The line of four parties at the base, fall, 1980.

Route Overlay for Regular NW Face Route as seen from base.

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) The goal is to get the knot wedged here, where Sam's toe is. Sam got it after about a dozen tries, and having watched Sam figure out the ideal technique, the leader from the party after us got it on his second toss. The rope toss eats up some time, but it is kind of fun, actually.

Half Dome - Regular NW Face - finishing pitches

When the face first comes into view coming down from the shoulder, it inspires awe. And commands respect.

Training run up Half-Dome to rehearse movement, gear beta, free-climbing beta, etc. for the Link-Up.

Looking up at pitch 13/14. Most of this is pretty casual to free, and awfully awkward to aid.

Starting out on Robbins Traverse June 1976.

Taken from anchor at top of P7, showing P8-P9 route to start of P10 bolt ladder

P22 bolt ladder topo (no second pendulum)

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) A view of the rope toss from above. I have started my lead of Pitch 13, and am looking down. My partner Sam is at the belay on the left and another climber (Alex) is doing the rope toss from the bolt in the C2 corner on the right. Yet another climber (Alister) is arriving at the bolt in the C2 corner. This pitch had taken awhile so we had a traffic jam of all three parties trying to get through it.

Half Dome NW Face Regular route - Free Topo

Chuck Wilfley Schlepping gear to the base. 1980.

Thank God! June 1976.

SC ace Buddy Brasington in the chimneys

New detailed Topo of the fallen Pitch of RNWF<br>
.5 Dome!<br>
Cannot verify the rating of the new features out right as we just investigated to see if it seemed it would even go, which it definitely will.<br>
The bolt ladder to pendulum that was started by Zach & Jack and finished by Howard & Myself is quite straightforward and will eventually also go free!!

Leading up the last pitch, underneath The Visor.

Big sandy ledge

(Pitch 12 after Rockfall.) In this photo, I am at a bolt in the C2 (11c) corner, looking over at my partner Sam at the belay at the end of the pith. It is from this bolt that the leader does a rope toss to the crack where Sam's right foot is in the photo, and then ascends this rope to the belay.

The Cables Route

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