Steck-Salathe Route,  Grade V, 5.9, Sentinel Rock, Yosemite Valley
Photos by Eric James

       This is a classic route and I've climbed it a couple of times.  About 2000 feet of climbing.  It is best done in a day and without packs to fully enjoy the chimneys that characterize the route.  We did it in about 5 hours.  Although only rated 5.9 the route is continuously challenging especially when the chimneys, generally unprotected,  are wet ...which is often.




    













 















    Rob leads  the Wilson Overhang, 5.9 about midway up the route.














 








 Looking down the valley to El Capitan  from the top of the Flying Butress.











 













 Rob in "The Narrows", 5.9.  This is a 140 foot chimney pitch that is best enjoyed without protection  (of the temporal kind anyway).