Yosemite Guided Climbing

Question
Hello Jeff:

I've been climbing for about four years and have some experience climbing and leading bolted sport routes but, little experience on Trad stuff.

I'd like to try climbing in Yosemite and was wondering how you would recommend getting started.  Are there any guide services that you would recommend for the Valley or Tuolumne?

Thank you

Cheers

Todd


Answer
Todd,
Welcome to Yosemite climbing. It's truly the best climbing in the world.  The Valley and Tuolumne are both great places. But very different. Most of the clibs in Tuolumne are bolted faces. There are some great mixed routes and some fine crack climbs. The great thing about Tuolumne is that you can walk off 99% of the climbs.  In the Valley many have to be rappelled unless you choose to climb to the rim of the Valley.

There is a great guide service in Yosemite. The Yosemite Mountaineering School is world famous and the only licensed school allowed to operate in the Valley. though there are many private guides who you can find who are great as well. The school operates in both Tuolumne and the Valley

There are also many guide books available by Falcon Press that offer route descritions and ratings.  One website I would reccomend is www.supertopo.com  this site has a free forum for route info and some free downladable topos.

Are you planning on going alone or do you have a partner?  Partners are easy to find but be carefull for the unsafe guys and gals that say they can do one thing then get you stuck.

Feel free to ask anything else if I have not covered your question.

Jeff