East Corner

This route is much better than the standard route on the Higher Spire, in my opinion. In fact it is the best route I've done on either of the Cathedral Spires (I've also done both standard routes and NE Face on the Lower Spire).

The Cathedral Spires are some of my favorite features in Yosemite, yet few brave the rough approaches. The spires are pretty amazing, and larger than they look from the valley floor. Jan 31, 2007

FA: Tom Gerughty & Chuck Pratt - July, 1965 Mar 18, 2010

The approach requires some devious circumnavigation to reach the start. We spent half an hour scrambling in circles on ledges near the base. You actually want to scramble up to the highest ledge system along the base. Then hug the base as you follow it to the right (you will walk right past the start of the SE Face Route, the splitter fist crack). You will descend down a steep gully/chimney, then do a very exposed step-across at a tree over into another steep gully and take that up to the base of the route. It's actually a rad and unique approach, sort of like the Energy Crisis approach at the Cream area. It also helps to know, the East Corner route directly faces the Lower Cathedral Spire.

This is a great way to the summit, especially if there's lots of parties on the Reg Route. All of the pitches have enjoyable climbing. The 10a corner is more fun than it looks from below. Oct 8, 2012

We approached per Bryan G's description and found the climb right away.
P2 seemed more like 120 feet. Jun 7, 2016

The green Roper guide calls this a difficult 5.10. I agree. We were glad we roped up for the last bit of the downclimb and step across on the approach.

The first pitch has some questionable rock getting up to the tree. After that the route is great. The second pitch is classic. Oct 9, 2016

We rappelled down the steep chimney and exposed step across on the approach. We took a double rack to #3 and 1 #4. Went straight up on P4 to the top. The 5.6 squeeze would have been over to the right and seemed hard to find from below (it is obvious once on the summit - same chimney as visible from the Regular Route on the other side). Nov 20, 2017

Excellent route that stays in the shade past 10 a.m. if you are trying for a summer ascent. The 1st pitch beta is a little cryptic in describing the start but you start in a 10ft high left facing squeeze chimney that goes up to a wide right facing flake. You surpass a 5.9 rooflet on the right and then trend back left to a finger crack that leads to the 1st pitch belay. The steep gulley and step across on the approach is about a 15 foot rappel from a tree, so don't think you need to go way down the gulley, stay high. Although the second pitch needs a touch of gardening, it has some of the nicest climbing moves around and you will be psyched to have done it. Oct 2, 2018