Preparing for the death march off the top

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > B. El Capitan > 3. Southeast Face > Zodiac (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b C3)

Preparing for the death march off the top

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looking down pitch 13, the hard luck pitch. bumping #5 cams for dayz!

Matt Dinome following the second to last pitch on the Zodiac, 10/2023

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Tim Wheatley

Mar 13, 2025

“Preparing for the death march off the top”

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Nearby Photos

Me and my brother Aidan's ashes on the top

Nose from Zodiac

Jugging up the fixed lines during a beautiful winter

I was the last person to use the original "Curry Cot" from the tent cabins. (Probably weighed 40lbs)
<br>
A photo of this porta ledge can be seen in the book Yosemite Climber.
<br>
Photo by Bob Gaines

Somewhat of a death loop on top of Zodiac. Photo by Cheyne Lempe

Pitch 14. Freed at 10d with no Large cams, one of my scariest leads ever.

Tim jugging up pitch 10 on our second morning on the wall

Matt P after taking a 30 footer trying to do the 7th pitch clean. He back-flopped off of the black dagger half way through the fall and broke his finger.

I think this was just before the white circle.<br>
<br>
Photo: Stevie Nacho 2000

Dave Hoven jugging the Mark of Zorro pitch. Photo by Joel Irby

Jugging the pig line on the Nipple Pitch. Photo by Joel Irby

Topo from Yosemite Bigwalls: The Ultimate Guide by Erik Sloan

... topo...

Zodiac (Sep 1980)

Zodiac (Sep 1980)

Greg coming up to the anchor of P14

Ryan Huetter on the spectacular Nipple pitch. Josh Garrison belays.

Lowering out on the nipple pitch, photo by Tom Evans.

Peanut ledge

P15 traverse

ryan doherty belaying on the nipple pitch

Joel Irby cleaning the second to last pitch.

Zodiac

Christina Pepper on (p1) of The Zodiac. (June 1993)

Dangling from a monster hook with big air under my feet. On lead to peanut ledge

2 pitches to go

Dave Sessions on (p1) of The Zodiac. (June 1993)

Unknown Climber on a Solo of Zodiac entering the white circle. Taken on October 16th 2022 around 11-11:30am

Jugging out in space.

Bailing:(

Russ starting to lead el portal

Snowy morning from camp at p5

Under the devils brow. The next pitch is on the cover of the 2020 Sloan ultimate guidebook

Looking down at the black tower

Epic view from camp atop the nipple pitch. Many great bolts for a bivy here

Looking down after leading the flying buttress

Hanging out with several thousand feet below at the top out

Working up into the circle in a brief moment of thinking I should be proficient at aid climbing. Didn't last.

Joel Irby getting ready to clean the Nipple.....this route is nice and steep.

Black Tower pitch

About to jug up the mark of zorro pitch I believe.

Gary leading on an inverted cam hook.

Looking down on the nipple pitch

Leading pitch 7 or 8?

looking down pitch 13, the hard luck pitch. bumping #5 cams for dayz!

Preparing for the death march off the top

Matt Dinome following the second to last pitch on the Zodiac, 10/2023

Dave Sessions on (p1) of The Zodiac. (June 1993)

Peanut ledge 1994

Rock fall from zenyatta mendotta October 2017 as seen from the top of the flying buttress during a push

Aiding on Zodiac. Photo by Kenny Blum

jugging 5.8 hands 2/3ish the way up Zodiac!

This is drawn from a photo I took on a trip up The Zodiac in 1988. My old wall partner Scott Tracy jugging "The Mark of Zorro".

Nipple Pitch

peanut ledge 1994

A party starting up the Open Book pitch.

Matt Dinome leading up the El Portal pitch on Zodiac, 10/2023.

Matt Dinome and Mark Genito at the camp just above the Nipple Pitch, 10/2023. Photo by Max Warren.

Mark Genito following on the Mask of Zorro pitch, 10/2023. Photo by Matt Dinome.

Flexing yellow totems as I aided an easy ledge to p5 anchors.

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