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Heathenistic Pursuit

5.10, Trad, 80 ft (24 m),  Avg: 2.9 from 121 votes
FA: Jim Beyer and Bob Sullivan, 1978
California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > L. The Chapel Wall
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Description

Excellent and varied pitch that begins in a large left-facing corner that is easily visible from the trail. The line moves away from the corner after a few moves, following a lieback and thin hands crack around a small roof and up a short, steep ramp. Steep hands in double cracks lead to the massive roof that caps the lower half of the dihedral - traverse left under this roof, passing a second crux, to access the anchors. Rap rings, single rope rap to the ground.

A second pitch may continue up the obvious undercling, though the condition of the anchor on top is unknown to me.

Location

From the Chapel, follow the horse trail down-valley. After ~150 ft, look for a trail that breaks up and left to the obvious cliff face. The dark dihedral of Heathenistic Pursuit is hard to miss.

Protection


Doubles to 2". Some may want to triple up in the 1.25" (.75 BD) size, though not necessary.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Great photo taken by Ryan Sheridan of Heathenistic Pursuit
[Hide Photo] Great photo taken by Ryan Sheridan of Heathenistic Pursuit
Getting around the roof. Photo by Matt Richter.
[Hide Photo] Getting around the roof. Photo by Matt Richter.
Loving that hand jam. Photo by Matt Richter.
[Hide Photo] Loving that hand jam. Photo by Matt Richter.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Billy Smallen
Bozeman, MT
  5.10b
[Hide Comment] Great route! Can be climbed in the rain, bring repellent in the summer. Oct 24, 2011
Alexey Zelditch
San Jose
 
[Hide Comment] curious about second pitch..
what is the anchors for it?
anyone done it recently? May 13, 2013
Arch Richardson
Grand Junction
  5.10b/c
[Hide Comment] Thuggish lieback. Packs a lot in 60 ft. Great gear throughout. Jul 30, 2016
Andrew Upchurch
Yosemite, CA
  5.10b
[Hide Comment] rating is a bit of a sandbag, but its a classic and I think it should stay that way ;) Nov 16, 2016
Armando Cordoves Jr
San Francisco, CA
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] Rating is a sandbag. Every bit of mid-upper 5.10. Great climb and burly, with a little bit of everything from ring locks to steep hands. Takes great pro. Oct 3, 2023