Berkeley, 1974, 1st edition. 207 pp, many ills. Galen's first book. Large-format hardcover, The first major book on climbing in Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada of California. This was Galen Rowell's first book, and is now a classic in the literature of mountaineering. It's a large format hardcover full of many photos from the first ascent climbs of the classic routes. Chipped DJ, Near Fine.
It covers the earliest climbs up through the early 1970s. The chapters are written about the famous climbs by the climbers who pioneered the routes. Chapters by Royal Robbins (4 chapters: The Salathé Wall El Capitan, The North American Wall, Tis-sa-ack, interview), Yvon Chouinard (2 chapters: Muir Wall El Capitan, Modern Yosemite Climbing), Bestor Robinson (The First Ascent of the Higher Cathedral Spire), A. Phimister Proctor (An Ascent of Half Dome in 1884 [one of the earliest 'technical' climbs in the Sierras]), Anton Nelson (Five Days and Nights on the Lost Arrow), Allen Steck (2 chapters: Ordeal by Piton, Robbins interview), Michael Sherrick (The Northwest Face of Half Dome), Warren Harding (2 chapters: El Capitan [the first ascent of the Nose], Reflections of a Broken-down Climber), Allen Macdonald (Realm of the Overhang), Doug Robinson (Camp 4), Galen Rowell (3 chapters: Rescue on the South Face of Half Dome, Introduction, Robbins interview), Ken Wilson (Robbins interview).
Chapters are: Introduction--Galen Rowell, An Ascent Of Half Dome in 1884--A. Phimster Proctor, The First Ascent of the Higher Cathedral Spire--Bestor Robinson, Five Days and Nights on the Lost Arrow--Anton Nelson, Ordeal by Piton--Allen Steck, The Northwest Face of Half Dome--Michael Sherrick, El Capitan--Warren Harding, Realm of the Overhang--Allen Macdonald, The Salathe Wall, El Capitan--Royal Robbins, Modern Yosemite Climbing--Yvon Chouinard, Camp 4--Doug Robinson, The South Face of Mount Watkins--Chuck Pratt, The North America Wall--Royal Robbins, Muir Wall, El Capitan--Yvon Chouinard, Rescue on the South Face of Half Dome -- Galen Rowell, Tis-sa-ack--Royal Robbins (See Photo #2--Right), Reflections of a Broken-down Climber--Warren Harding, Interview with Royal Robbins--Ken Wilson, Allen Steck, and Galen Rowell.
