Yosemite Archive

Stories about climbing from El Capitan, Half Dome, and the Yosemite Valley beyond.

Latest Stories

Culture

In 1976, a Plane Crashed Into a Frozen Lake in Yosemite. Chaos Ensued.

A new documentary exposes the hijinks of the climbers involved. We interview the director and a source who revealed his story 50 years later.

Maya SilverSeptember 8, 20264

Skills

The Scariest Part of 'Snake Dike' is Actually the Descent

After using Half Dome’s cables to descend from ‘Snake Dike’ (5.7 R, 800ft), I realized just how sketchy this popular "trail" really is. Why don't hikers get proper beta?

Sam MacIlwaineJune 22, 2026

News

Why Katie Lamb Adopted a "Beginner's Mind" to Send a New V15 in Yosemite

To establish 130 BPM, the 28-year-old stepped away from the “over-engineered” nature of modern bouldering and listened to her gut.

Owen ClarkeMay 26, 2026

Videos

El Cap Aid Climber Survives a Bruising Fall Caused by Broken Flake

Watch and learn from this Yosemite whipper, wherein a rivet saves the day.

Sam MacIlwaineMay 8, 2026

Culture

Yosemite Spring 2026: Reporting From the Valley

This spring, Climbing's Sam MacIlwaine is reporting from Yosemite Valley. Here's how to follow her coverage, plus iconic Yosemite stories to listen to.

The EditorsMay 7, 2026

Culture

How Two Dirtbags in Love Made History on Half Dome—and in Climbing Pants

From the rise of clean climbing, to her place in the record books as the first woman to top a grade VI big wall, Liz Robbins looks back across the decades.

Maya SilverApril 23, 2026

Culture

Sea of Nightmares: My Son Died Climbing. Now, I Wrestle With ‘What If.’

The questions, hypotheticals, and past haunting me as the father of Balin Miller, who fell to his death in October.

David Moudy-MillerApril 8, 20263

Videos

Our First Look at HBO's Epic New Series About Dean Potter

The creators of ‘The Alpinist’ and ‘The Dawn Wall' share the new trailer for their docuseries on the high-stakes life of Dean Potter, a climbing legend who fell to his death at 43 years old.

Abigail WiseMarch 27, 2026

News

Teddy Eyob Becomes First Black Climber to Free El Capitan

After a clean ascent of 'Free Rider' in November, the 30-year-old was shocked to find out he'd achieved a historic milestone.

Holly Yu Tung ChenJanuary 22, 20261

Community

The Valley Boy: The Life and Death of a Young Free Soloist

A 17-year-old free soloist ran away to Yosemite. One year later, his body was found at the base of Royal Arches.

Gavin FeekAugust 2, 2025

Travel

An Epic-Laced History of El Cap's Easiest Route

The writer and stonemaster John Long dives into the lore (and his own experiences) on his favorite 5.10: The East Buttress of El Cap

John LongDecember 19, 2025

Culture

A Colorful History of Pooping on El Capitan, By the Decades

From bomb squads to flying bags of excrement, these are the greatest untold El Cap poop stories from the Yosemite archives.

Ken YagerDecember 18, 2025

News

Laura Pineau Makes First Female Ascent of ‘Wet Lycra Nightmare’ (V 5.13d A0)

Just six months after linking the first female Yosemite Triple Crown with Kate Kelleghan, Laura Pineau returns to free climbing on Yosemite’s steepest wall.

Sam MacIlwaineDecember 8, 2025

News

How Sasha DiGiulian Overcame a 9-Day Snowstorm and 10 Bloody Fingers to Send El Cap’s Longest Free Route

On November 26, DiGiulian achieved the first female ascent of ‘The Direct Line’ (5.13d; 3,000ft), also known as ‘Platinum Wall,’ after a remarkable, 23-day push.

Sam MacIlwaineDecember 4, 2025

News

Will Moss Becomes Youngest to Free the ‘Nose’ in a Day

On November 1, the 20-year-old sent the 3,000-foot ‘Nose’ in a day—and added it to his rapidly growing list of granite test pieces.

Miles FullmanNovember 3, 2025

News

Did Connor Herson Just Have the Best 3 Days in Yosemite Climbing History?

The 22-year-old becomes the third person to free ‘The Nose’ (5.14a; 3,000 ft) in a day—only three days after making the first free ascent of ‘Triple Direct’ (5.14a; 3,000ft).

Sam MacIlwaineOctober 29, 20251