View of Little Yosemite Valley and the Apron from the lower end of the route, upper traverse was totally covered in pine needles

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > H. Royal Arches… > Royal Arches > Central Royal A… > Royal Arches (5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b)

View of Little Yosemite Valley and the Apron from the lower end of the route, upper traverse was totally covered in pine needles

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Second-to-Last Arches Rap - Better Way

Brenda cleaning the belay station just above the fixed pendulum. Note the water on the rock in the foreground -- it was pretty wet up there, and Half Dome in the background.

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Doctor Drake

Jun 16, 2018

“View of Little Yosemite Valley and the Apron from the lower end of the route, upper traverse was totally covered in pine needles”

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Back in the day...when the "rotten log" was in place on the traverse 11th pitch. Kevin Sargent crawling across. Royal Arches

Soloing on Royal Arches on a linkup with Crest Jewel Direct. This is a pitch or two above the traverse, I believe.

Looking down valley from Arches.

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Topo showing pitches 5 through 15 of the Royal Arches Route (5.7). A true classic. Most of the route is clean and pretty straight forward. Just follow the chalk, fixed gear, and other climbers. Although it can get crowded, it's a worthwhile climb.

This shows the scale of the climb. Inside the red "O" at the top center are two climbers at the 15th pitch anchors which is the first rappel station.

Soloing on Royal Arches on a linkup with Crest Jewel Direct. This is somewhere around mid-route, pitch 8 or so. Fun 5.8 handcrack.

Royal Arches Rappel Route

Second-to-Last Arches Rap - Better Way

View of Little Yosemite Valley and the Apron from the lower end of the route, upper traverse was totally covered in pine needles

Brenda cleaning the belay station just above the fixed pendulum. Note the water on the rock in the foreground -- it was pretty wet up there, and Half Dome in the background.

Barry on pitch one.

View from "the beach"; a sandy ledge and great lunch spot right below the pendulum.

Topo Page 2 Updated (2020)

Glad to be on Pebble Beach be after leading the pitch 8 offwidth crack. Incredible day.

Orchids at the top out

Royal Arches

Royal Arches Rappel Route topo

My partner Jeff on Pitch 15 of the Royal Arches.

Pitch after first long ramp, May 2008.

Crossing this slab is the final pitch of the route.

Learning how to crack climb through a bomber directional

Easy climbing in the valley

Looking down at my partner Daren on the upper section of Royal Arches...

Daren coming up to the ledge below the slab crux/pendulum pitch...

Rappeling Royal Arches

George on the traverse pitch just past the pendulum. With a 70m rope and some drag, we linked these two.

The Traverse after the crux/pendulum pitch...Half Dome in the background...

after a wonderful day on the rock with a very special friend.

taken from the belay after the pendulum. climbers in the photo are on pitch 8.

Looking across at the pendulum on pitch 9.

Chuck Konopa leading the 5.7 pin scar variation pitch 1 by headlamp. It's east of the chimney and we found it more aesthetic.

Eric at the pendulum

Hand crack on 6 or 7 pitch

Jeff leading Pitch 14 of the Royal Arches.

View of El Cap and Yosemite Valley Midway Up on Royal Arches

Climbing Pitch 3 of the Royal Arches with over 1000 feet of climbing above. Sweet!

Having fun on Royal Arches

the swing

Travis Strong enjoying the top of the Royal Arches. September 11'

The final slab traverse before heading on down!

The optional pendulum section on Royal arches