I didn't really pay close attention to the suggested larger pieces of pro and ended up jamming up to my forearms while running it out a little bit higher.

The book said that climbers most often remember the top wide portion. The view was pretty great.

Moby Dick left was harder than I'd anticipated. My loins took the loins share of the beating, but my knees and shoulders felt it too. The route is old school, physical, and beautiful.

I am heading up the first pitch of Little John Right. Photo: Stephen Schmid

Photo of my daughter showing me "The Nose". Future climber is Sammi Cronk, March 2003.

Polly leading Sacherer Cracker at the base of El Capitan. A beautiful pitch that includes all widths from thin hands to offwidth.

Probably the most intimidating 1 pitch climb ever. What a setting though. Worth it just to look up and see 3000 feet of rock over your head...

this is a photo of me on "Pine Line" at the base of El Cap. My best friend, Nina, took the picture with her sister, Gina, belaying. This was the last day of our Oct 2005 trip where I taught Nina and my mom how to rock climb and Gina honed her skills as expert belayer and rock climber. what a great trip!

Texplorer thrutches up the mother of squeeze chimneys.

Pine Line, my first 5.7 lead in the valley. An unforgettable climb with the towering Nose above.

While standing on the top of La Cocita Left I got a shot of this fellow climber on a nice finger crack route.

Dave Yerian leading Dimitri Barton's "Armageddon" (5.10d R) with El Cap towering above him.

Making his way up Sacherer Cracker, lot of fun to be had on this route.

Jon on Chongo's Rope Swing at the base of El Cap in the alcove. Good Times!

Pine line is but look up and you think you are on your way to the top

We did a nice route to the right side of the nose and Rhonda proved she can aways out climb me.

This is the 1st pitch of the the "Salathe". A Great 10c fingers to hands pitch..anyone thats done it would agree that its excellent! It roujnded out our day of "cragging" at the base of The Captain

My dad snapped a pic of me climbing about mid way up pine line.

Gary on his first trad lead, Pine Line, 5.7, El Capitan Southwest base. While this is one of the traditional "first Valley lead" climbs, the setting of the climb is spectacular with views across to the Cathedral Rocks and Spires, and the awesome view of the Capitan which appears to arch out over the base. This photo was taken by me Dr.Ed aka Ed Hartouni.

Pine line is the shortest route on the biggest piece of rock in the U.S. The difference in scale is wildly dramatic...to stare thousands of feet up overhanging granite one minute, and then 50 feet up to the top of this climb the next, it makes you feel pretty insignificant but is a must do for newcomers.

After five days straight of climbing at Yosemite, I found myself leading this crack at the base of El Cap. A very enjoyable and aesthetic route.

September 1999, I climbed El Cap , the weather was perfect.

This Photo was taken by Nick Thain in February of this year. Nice picture of El Cap from a different location.

I took this shot from the meadow as a storm moved in on an April afternoon this year. The clouds moved in quite fast, must have been quite a time to be on the upper pitches of one of El Cap's routes.

this was really fun...i just wish that we had not started so late as we are frying right now. but this one was worth it.