Routes : North America : United States : California : Yosemite National Park : Yosemite Valley : El Capitan : Southwest Face: El Capitan : Salathe Wall
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Salathe Wall - A2 popular
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Aid
This route easily goes clean - hammer ONLY for cleaning. Cam hooks useful, especially on Headwall
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Description:
Salathe Wall is unquestionably the finest natural line on El Cap. Many consider this to be a better route than even the Nose, with moderate free climbing down low that becomes progressively harder the higher you get. The first ten-pitch section up to Mammoth Terraces is known as Free Blast, a popular outing at 5.11b. From Mammoth you will normally find ropes in situ extending down from the base of the Heart to the ground. While a handful of parties have sent the route free at 5.13b, most mortals will aid at least half of it. Hollow Flake Ledge and Long Ledge are great bivis with enough room to unpack and camp in comfort, but it is the spectacular bivi atop El Cap Spire that is Salathe Wall's hallmark. You won't have to fight the crowds up here, though - the scary 5.9 offwidth of the Hollow Flake, which is too wide to aid even with big cams, keeps away the riff-raff.Note: If you are riff-raff, it is recommended you hire a Rope Gun.
Submitted by: passthepitonspete on 2006-03-26
Views: 1418
Route ID: 4505
Topo Image
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Most Recent Photos (See all 9 photos)
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21 Ascents Recorded
Record an ascent
Read all 21 ascent notes
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| Difficulty | 5.9 A2 |
| Safety Rating | PG13 |
| Exposure |  |
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Red Point ascent by:
#1
Best route in the World.
Done it a few times now.
Definitely works you more than the Nose.
If I could free climb, all of my time and energy would go into this one.
Done it a few times now.
Definitely works you more than the Nose.
If I could free climb, all of my time and energy would go into this one.
Added: 2009-10-11
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| Difficulty | |
| Safety Rating | G |
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Onsight ascent by:
Salathe Wall
Expect a cold wind high on the route. We froze on the last day. Pitch 32, the one above Long Ledge, is missing a key fixed pin, which has changed the grade from 5.8 C1 to 5.10R. My wife took a 30 footer, then got back on and finished the pitch. Probably a good idea for someone to wail in a nice fixed pin there, since the current situation is out of character with the rest of the route.
The cracks on this route are unreal. It's twice as long and twice as good as the NW Face of Half Dome. If I were a better free climber, I would make it my life project to free climb this route.
The cracks on this route are unreal. It's twice as long and twice as good as the NW Face of Half Dome. If I were a better free climber, I would make it my life project to free climb this route.
Added: 2008-06-07
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| Difficulty | |
| Safety Rating | G |
Second Time Around
Fun fun w the Lornarator
Added: 2007-09-04
| Ratings | |
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| Difficulty | 5.9 A2 |
| Safety Rating | R |
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the classic
Hard wide free climbing
Added: 2006-12-24
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| Difficulty | |
| Safety Rating | G |
Ascent Note
Partner: Chuck Lohn
Comments: First El Cap route, 2 attempts. Climbed Free Blast/fixed to Heart Ledge, 5 bivies.
Comments: First El Cap route, 2 attempts. Climbed Free Blast/fixed to Heart Ledge, 5 bivies.
Added: 2006-08-16
