The Rostrum - North Face

Yosemite is not just about 3,000ft granite monoliths in the valley. Sometimes it's about 700ft granite monoliths just outside the valley. The Rostrum is on the list of every 5.11 Yosemite climber, especially combined with the famously wild Alien Finish. This image also shows the (even better?) Blind Faith and some obscure routes on the walls to either side of the column.

Download: Medium resolution, personal use only

Route List

1: Country Corner, 5.9, Howard, Reid, 1992
2: Dime Bag, 5.10c, Bard, Braun, 1975
3: High Line, 5.10 R A3+, McNeely, Wright, 2000
4: Whipcord (Bridwell Corner Finish), 5.13c, Barry, 1993 (Bridwell, Price)
5: Original Finish, 5.12b
6: The Excellent Adventure, 5.13c
7: Alien Finish, 5.12b, Yaniro, 1980
8: North Face, 5.11c, Denny, Harding, 1962/Carrigan et al., 1985
9: Blind Faith, 5.11d, Bard, Kauk, 1975
10: West Base Route, 5.10c, Czamanske, Wood, 1959/Cashner, Reid, 1982
11: Lloyd’s Return Trip, 5.9, Price
12: Notch Route, 5.4, Adam, Brower, Leonard, Pundt, 1941
13: Static Cling, 5.10a, Cashner, Reid, 1984

Sources

• “Yosemite Free Climbs,” Don Reid, Falcon Press, 1994

• “Rock Climbing Yosemite Valley, 750 Best Free Routes,” Erik Sloan, Marek Jakubowski, Yosemite Big Walls, 2020

• American Alpine Journal

• BigWall.com

• Mountain Project

• Alex Honnold

Updates

Jun 30, 2023: First version published.

May 15, 2024: Graphic design update