PRINT: Rock Climb Two Hoofers, Yosemite National Park

Two Hoofers

5.12a, Trad, 1000 ft (303 m), 7 pitches, Grade IV,

Avg: 3 from 4 votes
FA: Doug Hemken and Andy Davis, August 2008
California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > D. Half Dome > 4. Southwest Face

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Description

Climbs the large water groove on the SW face of Half Dome. Pitch one is shared with Blondike.
The crux is the face just below the start of the groove, this blank 20ft section can be pulled through at AO, making the route 5.10b AO.

Protection

Cams- two each .4-#3 Camalot, one #4
Nuts- one set
Runners and Draws

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

doug getting into the groove

Topo for two new (2008) routes on Half Dome's SW Face

A more detailed view of pitches 2-4

David Nimmer at the belay for pitch one.

Two Hoofers from the ground. The route ascends underneath the giant flake, but passes it far to the right.

bolt ladder or 5.12 friction on pitch three

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Travis Hibbard

Congratulations Guys!

Looks like you had an awesome time. The "groove" looks badass Aug 27, 2008

Doug Hemken
Delta, CO

Thanks, Travis.

The main part of the groove was surprisingly tame. I kind of swam up the main trough, and it is low-angle enough to keep a foot on the outside face. Even at the top, where is rears up more steeply, it's really nice hands.

The part that was "badass" was the bolt ladder/ 5.12 friction below the groove.

In and around all of that is a bunch of really neat 5.10 face/slab climbing, including mantels, pinches, and cool solution pockets in the bottom of the groove.

Unfortunately, the belay stances are not in the best places for taking photos, so this route doesn't have the stunning eye-appeal of "Blondike."

It would be a good 5.12 for a 5.10 climber to take a shot at. Aug 28, 2008

Tom Mulholland
#1 Cheese Producing State!

5.12a R

David Nimmer and I worked on this route on July 6th, finding a free variation along the bolt ladder. We were unable to free the pitch that day when the sun made everything too hot. On July 7th, we freed the whole line.

After a lot of discussion about the grade, we think it is fair to call it a 5.12a because of the face climbing in the bolt ladder section, which consists of insecure friction feet and credit card crimps for about 10 moves, then a few more moves of 5.10 face. Neither of us has much experience with 5.12 friction face climbing in the Valley, but we feel the moves are similar to a 5.12b/c at Devil's Lake. We are of course open to any future suggestions about the grade.

I gave it an R rating because of some very run-out sections and hard-to-place gear, although the hardest moves on the climb are well-protected.

Beta photos to come soon... Jul 11, 2011

Doug Hemken
Delta, CO

Yes! Thanks for cleaning that up, guys! So maybe now we should start calling this "Four Hoofers" .... Jul 11, 2011

SteveZ
Excelsior, MN

Looks like a cool route, I'm just curious what kind of terrain the big run outs are on. From the topo it looks like friction 5.6. Anything more difficult? Thinking about doing this next trip out, but need to return in one piece ;-) Mar 6, 2013

Doug Hemken
Delta, CO

The runout is easy friction. Feel free to take along a hammer and drill and add a couple of bolts to pitch 5, or even break it up into two pitches. We ran it out because we ran out of time .... Mar 7, 2013

SteveZ
Excelsior, MN

Thanks Doug! Funny about the extra bolts...I don't even own a hammer so I'll probably just do what you guys did and keep climbing. But maybe I can track one down somewhere. Depends on what the partners are feeling like while we're out there but I'll be sure to let you know how it goes if I get to try this thing. Sweet looking route.

ps. Is the name because you two are part of the hoofers club? Mar 7, 2013