Pictures of what was known as “The Meadow Fire”, in Yosemite National Park, spreading into Little Yosemite Valley and eventually to Cloud’s Rest on September 7th, 2014. A persistent drought combined with windy conditions meant the fire spread quickly.
These were taken from an Iphone in the early afternoon as the fire progressed.
Eventually the 80 or so hikers stranded on Half Dome were evacuated by helicopter with combined efforts of several local rescue agencies.
We got down from the Prow and the next day we drove to Parachute Center in Lodi and went skydiving.
I was strapped to the front of a dude from Hungary named Roman who didn’t speak much English.
Highly recommended.
Last week Richard and I climbed The Prow on Washington Column. This was the first time I had ever slept in a portaledge and the first time I have ever done a route where you have to haul all your gear up with you.
The route is steep and exposed, tall compared to the rest of the planet but a short wall by Yosemite Valley standards.
Props to Richard for swinging leads with me, all his help with rope management and hauling, and his easy-going attitude.
Spent a week with my wonderful family. Walking has long been a favorite activity of ours.
How we spent the 4th of July. That and eating pie with ice cream. 13,061 ft high but Tioga Road does most of that work for you.
The plan was to do it in a day.
We left the apartment at 4:30am on Tuesday and got back at 3:00pm on Wednesday.
From the route description on Mountain Project:
The Steck-Salathe truly deserves its status as one of the “Fifty Classic Climbs of North America”. Everything from the climbing itself to the many stories of adventure had on the north face of the Sentinel makes this climb a must-do for any aspiring Valley climber — if not a route to be repeated again and again, it certainly should at least be seen as a rite of passage. The climb’s reputation for being long, wide, and physical is well deserved, but the quality of that climbing, the position one achieves, and the overall sense of adventure the route offers should not be understated.
Big ups to my roommate and friend Stewart Williams for being such a baller.
