• Climbing Magazine reported: When he topped out on 'Free Rider' (5.13a; 3,300ft) on November 30, Teddy Eyob (@goretex_jockstrap ) became the first Black climber to free El Capitan

• Tom Herbert put up a new line on Loggerhead Buttress called Winter Sport

• In this week’s Founder’s Note, Ken Yager shares a classic Yosemite story that starts in the late ’80s, when plastic holds and indoor competitions first appeared in the U.S.

• For this week’s feature, YCA speaks with Midpines local, Nick Miranda!

For this week’s founder’s note, Ken Yager writes about how climbing became his lifeline. And for this week’s feature, I talk with Lydia Bothwell, a Midpines local who has been part of my climbing group for the past few seasons. Lydia grew up in Mariposa, picked up climbing in 2019, and last February she did her first big wall: El Cap’s Salathé Wall.

Save the date! The Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit is coming to the valley May 21-24, 2026.

This week, YCA founder Ken Yager shared his story of climbing Horse Chute on El Cap. For the feature story, I interviewed Norm Pelak, a Merced, Calif.-based climber I often climb with.

This week’s feature is on Julian Bigi, while Ken Yager shares a story about running into Lynn Hill after injuring his wrist with a drill bit while roofing in Foresta, then agreeing to film her as she trains to free The Nose in a day.

This week, we’re highlighting Yosemite Boulder Farm in Mariposa, which opened to the public earlier this month. The Boulder Farm offers private instructional climbing via toproping and bouldering, along with a WiFi-enabled Airbnb and an outdoor grill—all on the outskirts of Yosemite.

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.