PRINT: Rock Climb Claude's Delight, Yosemite National Park

Claude's Delight

5.7, Trad, 150 ft (45 m), 2 pitches,

Avg: 2.4 from 190 votes
FA: Claude Fiddler & Peter Olander - August 1972
California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > E Yosemite Fall… > A. Swan Slab

Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations. Details

Please visit climbingyosemite.com/ and nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the latest information on visiting Yosemite, including permits, regulations, and closure information.

Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.

Description

This is a great beginner friendly pitch. Start up broken cracks passing bushes (.7) to a bolted belay with chains (top of Lena'a Lieback).

Top out option:
From the chains, traverse left out an exposed undercling flake (#4camalot) then up and to the right (.7) following crack to the belay ledge. This is the second pitch of Lena's Lieback. Then walk off to thre right. The quick walk off has a short scramble/down climb section to it.

Location

This route is right of Lena's Lieback. It is the last climb on the right side of Swan Slab.

Protection

Single set. This climb shares the anchor chains with Lena's Lieback.

If you choose to top out, use a natural anchor on top of pitch two. Walk off to the right.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Claude's Delight goes to the right, Lena's Lieback goes to the left.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

rex parker
las vegas n.v

actaully claudes delight is the single pitch 5.7 to the shared anchors. then to the left is three pitches as lena's. that go 5.9, 5.8., 5.8. walk off Jul 20, 2011

Osprey Overhang
...

5.7

Right you are Rex, thanks for the heads up. I've changed the discription to match the reality of these two climbs. Jul 24, 2011

Osprey Overhang
...

5.7

From the chains, it is possible to pull the roof/arete on the right and climb a short pitch to the top. This pitch is a steep, knobby slab with periodic shallow cracks that take aliens well. Belay from the tree. (5.9) This is more of a natural continuation for Claude's Delight, but is more on the difficult side of the moderate range. Jul 24, 2011

Michael Spielman
Reno, NV

This is a great route to practice trad leading and then set up a toprope for Lena's Lieback. Then you can mock lead the significantly harder Lena's or do a lot of laps. Great for a hot day as it's in the shade. In spring though, you'll be competing with the mosquitos. May 12, 2014

Joey T
Los Angeles

Easy pitch, with a cool and intro traverse under a flake. Protection is weird, and can cause some rope drag. Nice warm up for the other routes. First climbed with Rex Parker.. then led it 9/16. Super great weather in the valley right now. Sep 19, 2016