Hi there, Me and my girlfriend are visiting the valley in september for 2 weeks and would appreciate beta:approaches/descents/times/rack etc for the following routes we plan to do:-

E Buttress El Cap - what's the 5.9 OW like? The Good Book West Face Rixon Pinnacle Snake Dike - Can you sleep at the base? E Buttress Middle Cathederal Braille Book Mr Natural - Apron - can you still climb here after rockfalls Royal Arches Route Committment Outer Limits - Cookie Wheat Thin - Cookie Pink Dream - Elephant

Thanks for your help brothers!

-- Mark Hetherington (Mark@meadowview2.freeserve.co.uk), August 17, 1999

Answers

I cannot comment on any of the routes except the Glacier Point Apron routes and Snake Dike. All routes on the Glacier Point Apron are closed due to the rock slide. I do not know how long the closure will remain in effect but a portion of the Apron was closed for many months after the rock slide in 1996. You should be able to camp at the base of Snake Dike, but make sure you put your food on the climb away from the bears. You can also camp in Little Yosemite, but then you will have to hike to the base.

-- Mark A. Fletcher (mfletche@turnerdesigns.com), August 18, 1999.