For this week’s feature, we talked with Laura Pineau, who — belayed by John Kasaian — completed the first female ascent of Wet Lycra Nightmare on Leaning Tower.

In other news, Pietro Vidi sends Magic Line (5.14c) and the National Park Service announces fee-free day changes.

This week, Ken shares his memories of Royal Robbins.

We’re thrilled to share that Sasha DiGiulian has completed the Direct Line/Platinum Wall on El Cap!

This week’s feature highlights Rich Calderwood, who assisted on the first ascents of The Nose and the East Face of Washington Column (Astroman). In Ken Yager’s Founder’s Note, he remembers the late Tom Frost (June 30, 1936 – Aug. 24, 2018) and his key role in the early days of the Yosemite Climbing Association.

Amity Warme speaks with us about freeing The PreMuir on El Cap! A 12-day battle with heat, sun, and six 5.13 pitches marks the hardest El Cap free climb of her career.

Sasha DiGiulian and Elliot Faber make progress on El Cap! Enjoy this week’s feature on Ryan Sheridan.

Speed records, climbing news, and a special community spotlight with YCA volunteer Linda Jarit!

From the High Country to Yosemite Valley, Clayton Koob walks the Park’s longest lines—and sees them as fleeting art in the sky.

Earlier this week, we wrote that 22-year-old Connor Herson made the first free ascent of Triple Direct on El Cap and, two days later, freed The Nose in 9.5 hours. Both ascents were supported by his dad, legendary big wall climber Jim Herson. Yesterday, we spoke with Connor about both routes, and he also hinted at his next project—which he’s keeping under wraps for now.

This week, we’re profiling longtime Yosemite climber Mecia Serafino, Director of Outreach and Digital Content at Friends of YOSAR.

This week, we feature former Yosemite local, Ben Zartman, and his cross-country tour, as well as lots of Yosemite news updates!

This week, we’re profiling Langstyn Avery, founder of Negus in Nature, which “connects Black people to the joy of being outdoors,” says their website. Avery emceed this year’s Yosemite Facelift event.

This week, we’re featuring former Yosemite resident turned fine artist Forest Stearns.

Yosemite Facelift kicks off today in the park! 🚮♻️

This week, we’re profiling Merced local and frequent Yosemite climber Maggie Sogin. For the past several years, Sogin, her husband Pat, and I have climbed many times throughout the park, from Arch Rock to Lower Yosemite Falls Amphitheater to Lower Cathedral Rock West.

Lots of Yosemite news in this week’s newsletter!

We have two features this week: YCA founder Ken Yager’s origin story, and an interview with Steve West—the Southern California/Joshua Tree climber from the 1970s–80s who helped bring Boreal’s sticky-rubber shoes to the U.S. with John Bachar and later served as Boreal’s U.S. distributor/rep.

This week brings two feature stories in Q&A format with Emily Harrington and New York Times climate correspondent, David Gelles.

For this week’s feature story, we spoke with Eastside photographer Vern Clevenger about his upcoming coffee-table book, due out this winter.

On Sunday, August 24, IMAX is releasing a one-night-only screening of Girl Climber at 100 theaters across the U.S., featuring five-time National Champion Emily Harrington and her quest to free El Cap’s Golden Gate.

Dave Sessions has me on the phone as he wolfs down a bowl of spicy curry at a Thai food joint somewhere in Salt Lake City. He’s celebrating the near-completion of his new book. Regarding the soon-to-be-released e-book, Tuolumne Climbs: “It’s not a select guide, I don’t really like select guides, but it’s not an encyclopedia either — it’s 650 routes, a lifetime’s worth of climbing in Tuolumne. It covers all the great routes on the domes and doesn’t get into the peaks or the backcountry.”

Over six years, Olsen evolved from a Yosemite concession worker to a photographer documenting top climbers—including Kevin Jorgeson, Sasha DiGiulian, and Molly Mitchell—as well as the Valley’s highlining and rope-jumping scenes. He learned photography through a high school elective and mentorship from Yosemite, and through constant trial and error.

For this week’s feature, we spoke with longtime Tuolumne climber Dave Yerian. Museum curator Nansi Wilson often mentions Dave’s decades-deep love for the Meadows when I visit, and I ran into him again at the Mark Chapman memorial in May. Yerian has also been posting about the upcoming 44th anniversary of the Bachar-Yerian on Medlicott Dome.

This week, we interviewed Kate Kelleghan to learn more about the video she’s co-producing with climbing partner Laura Pineau on their ascent of the Yosemite Triple Crown—Mt. Watkins, El Cap, and Half Dome in fewer than 24 hours.