I would like to thank everybody that participated at the 6^th annual Yosemite Facelift in 2009. Your support helped to once again make the Facelift the best volunteer event in Yosemite National Park. This year we tried some new things to take the event in a greener direction.

It was only a matter of time. For more information click here. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm

Piton maker Dick Long of Longware fame made this piton puller.

Bill "Dolt" Feuerer's mail box. Dolt was well known for his fine craftmanship of climbing equipment in the 1960's. He was a prolific designer and manufacturer. Dolt was a genius ahead of his time. Click on the picture to see some of his patents, drawings and a couple photos.

Robert Underhill introduced the European rope techniques to California climbers. This letter was in one of the RCS binders that Richard Leonard compiled. More RCS scans from the binders to follow.

The summit team after the first ascent in 1934. From left to right, Bestor Robinson, Richard Leonard and Jules Eichorn. From the Higher Cathedral Spire Notebook. Click on the photo to see the drawings.

An original Bestor Robinson article written after the first ascents of the Cathedral Spires.

Richard Leonard of the Rock Climbing Section(RCS) of the Sierra Club kept meticulous records of RCS climber exams that were used to determine group leaders for climbing outings. These scorecards were kept in binders and donated to YCA by Richard Leonard. Click on the image to view the RCS scorecards.

Chuck Pratt and John Martin Meek in the Dornan's parking lot in Jackson Hole probably in the summer of 2000.

                               CHUCK PRATT: Past 50 and No Falls

                An Odyssey With One of America's Greatest Rock Climbers

                                            By John Martin Meek

(This article originally was written in 1991 after submitting the idea to Michael Kennedy at Climbing Magazine. But, because I could not locate Chuck to get his approval, it was never sent to Climbing. Anyone who does not understand why I wanted his approval did not really know Chuck Pratt.)

To: All climbers who know and love Yosemite National Park:

I realize that many of you are probably rolling your eyes at this point about the planning process in Yosemite and the federal government in general, but being actively vocal and involved with this process is your best way of changing the things you don't like about Yosemite and keeping the aspects you love.

Yosemite National Park is revisiting the Merced River Plan after two previous plans resulted in litigation. This summer’s court settlement with the former plaintiffs allows the Park to move forward, essentially starting back at ground zero, with another plan. The court specifically asked us to have an open and transparent process.