Yosemite in the Sixties

by Glenn Denny, Yvon Chouinard (Preface), Steve Roper (Contributor)

The sheer granite walls of Yosemite Valley galvanized a dedicated group of rock climbers in the 1960s, who saw the nearly holdless, glacier-polished faces as the purest form of challenge. The awesome Half Dome and El Capitan were first climbed in the late 1950s, ushering in a new era of rock climbing later known as the golden age of Yosemite climbing. During this era, the climbers of the sixties developed the techniques, tools, and philosophies that made Yosemite the most influential rock climbing arena in the world. In the spirit of the social changes of the sixties, a small group of committed climbers dropped out of mainstream work and society and took up residence in Camp 4, perfecting their skills and developing a unique social scene. This austere, boulder-strewn campground became the epicenter of the climbing world. It served both as a launching pad for spectacular feats and adventures and a refuge from them. Here plans were made, teams were formed, and the rest of life was lived. The significance of Camp 4 was recently recognized with its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Genres: Photography, Climbing

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2007

Reviews

[Eydís Blöndal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fann þessa bók upp í bústað og byrjaði á að fletta í gegnum hana yfir morgunkaffinu (hafði óvart vaknað kl 05:30). Var svo heltekin af myndunum að ég las öll orðin sem voru ekki mærg, skoðaði myndirnar aftur og aftur og las textabrotin frá ljósmyndaranum aftast í bókinni og fletti fram og aftur. Er í Lóni umvafin klikkuðum fjöllum og ég var svo snortin að ég táraðist!!! Langar núna að verða klifrari.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for what it seeks to do. As a climber I appreciate this as a rare and honest picture of the snapshot of time when Camp 4 was the center of the climbing world.