Snake Dike - 5.7 popular

onsighting this approach would be more impressive than onsighting the climb. plenty of route beta, so I'll just stick to providing beta for the approach.

although i know better, I should have studied the supertopo over all the chatter I digested at Camp 4. When you're on the John Muir Trail don't veer left too early after you pass the bathrooms by Nevada Falls. Somehow I jumped left too soon, saw some carines and got excited. 2 hours later thinking that I was walking along half dome, I found out I was really on the alternative trail between Liberty Cap and Mt. Broderick and bottomed out back on the Mist Trail. I know. High-five, me.

Sounds idiotic, but if you're going *down* a gully, you're doing the alternative approach backwards. I was getting excited about carines in the wrong direction. Again, 20/20 hindsight.

The left off of John Muir isn't as obvious as people claim. It's less than a quarter mile or so after the junction by the Little Yosemite trail sign. Once you spot a heavily worn climber's trail, then yes, you are on the right path. There is no immediate cairn by the left, but there are Cairns past the left, which yes can take you back to the climber's trail, but it's hard to navigate after the sandy boulder-y area the book describes. Head back and you'll find the correct trail from the get-go. Aside from the killer detour, the climb was spectacular. Still finished in day light with a little headlamp action at the end of the hike down.

Cairns - an absolute blessing and can be a curse in disguise. It's easy to convince yourself you're going in the right direction. Be critical of your own assumptions.

Second ascent... Always spectacular and wonderful. So much fun !

I thought the friction move on P1 was hard, but I'm used to desert granite. I didn't see a couple of the bolts that were mentioned in Supertopo, (except for 5.7 P3 move (which was super easy I thought)). Its runout, but with the jugs, I think it would be unlikely to fall. This climb is worth every star.

Screamed up this thing with Joel L. Also picked up some booty! A new BD #1 Camalot on the first pitch and a #7 BD stopper on the last! Every time I climb SD I can't help but dwell on the Mammoth IPA's and Pizza in Curry. I race to finish so I can imbibe. I need to recruit some people to hike the goods up to the top ($$)!

The first two pitches were easier than expected. I did some friction practice at the Goblet on Glacier Point Apron before heading up...P3 crux was way easier and then had to bail bc of thunderstorms (grrr!). Approach took about 2 hours from Little Yosemite campground.