Bid for History: Yosemite Climbing Museum’s Exclusive Silent Auction
Secure legendary signed prints, unique artwork, and unforgettable stays near Yosemite — only until March 25
Photo by: Mikey Schaefer: Courtesy YCA
As of March 19, there are six days left in the annual Yosemite Climbing Association (YCA) fundraiser. With items ranging from a value of $25 to $10,000 USD, winning bidders can walk away with a first edition artist’s proof of Royal and Liz Robbins on the summit of Half Dome after their 1967 ascent, plus Glen Denny’s image of Yvon Chouinard in a circle of handcrafted pitons in 1969. Both photos are signed. Also available is John Bachar’s 12 x 18 image of Lynn Hill making the first free ascent of the Nose on El Capitan in 1993. This image is also signed.
“We’re gaining traction,” Karin Tarpinian, YCA Events and Partnerships Senior Manager, says. “I think people want to bid last minute, but we’re starting to gain more momentum, especially that video we put out last week. It’s already had 115,000 views!”
History of the YCA
In 1992, at the Cedar Lodge near Yosemite’s west entrance, Ken Yager and his longtime climbing partner, the late Mike Corbett, pooled their gear together and added John Salathé’s iconic collection. (Salathé died that same year.) The hardware in the collection spanned decades, back to the 30s, and Yager and Corbett proudly showed the collection to guests. In attendance was Ed Hardy, president of the park’s concessionaire, who was so wowed that he offered to display the collection at the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley.
Ten years later, in 2004, Yager founded the Yosemite Facelift®, where his efforts contributed to removing more than 1 million pounds of trash from Yosemite. Over the next two decades, tens of thousands of people volunteered, and eventually, he took Facelift® nationwide and worldwide. In 2023, Facelift® cleaned 19 locations, from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to El Potrero Chico in Nuevo León, Mexico.
This year, they’re dialing the travel back and focusing exclusively on Yosemite’s gateway communities and, of course, its crown jewel, Yosemite, from the Valley floor to the High Country. Trash gets picked up below the Half Dome cables route and across the Valley at the top of El Capitan. With the help of the Park Service and climbing rangers, special projects are conducted, including removing abandoned gear stashes from the top of big walls and flying them down by helicopter.
Finally, in 2021, he opened a permanent museum an hour west of Yosemite in Mariposa. In 2022, Yager’s dream became a reality, and he opened a permanent climbing museum in Yosemite Valley, on the heart of the Valley floor in the bustling Village. This past winter, he closed the Mariposa museum for three months to redesign it. This way, visitors get the best experience when perusing the iron-eye spike George Anderson used to ascend Half Dome in 1875 and the Stoveleg piton Warren Harding used on the first ascent of El Capitan’s Nose in 1958.
“Ken opened the Yosemite Climbing Museum with the most extensive collection of climbing artifacts on display in the USA,” says YCA board member Jerry Gallwas. “Together, the Yosemite Visitor Center and Mariposa exhibits capture the history and spirit of big wall Yosemite climbing and the people who made it happen.”
Other items in the museum include the Boreal Bamba climbing shoes Lynn Hill used to free the Nose in 1993, Jerry Gallwas’s anvil and angle pitons he used to climb the RNWF of Half Dome in 1957, Jim Bridwell’s homemade beak prototypes and coppherheading kit, early hexes, and Ray Jardine’s first-generation Friends from the 1970s.
“YCA curates the largest archival collection of Yosemite climbing artifacts in the world, with over 10,000 + pieces of historical gear, publications, images, and memorabilia,” says their website. They work “collaboratively with the National Park Service, area land use managers, Park partners, and the Yosemite climbing community to develop sustainable use policies, consult on access issues, and institute educational and interpretive programs.”
Founder and president Ken Yager says, “By combining history with volunteerism, the YCA is preserving our sport’s past and ensuring climbing access by maintaining access to climbing areas. Let’s continue to celebrate John Salathé, Mike Corbett, and all the climbers who have contributed to our rich history and work together to protect the future of our sport.”
Facelift®: From National to Local
In 2023, where she visited 19 locations for Facelift®, Tarpinian says, “As a Lebanese Armenian and first-generation American, I understand the significance of connecting Facelift® with diverse and underrepresented communities. This year, we’re focusing on and bringing it back to our mission of preserving Yosemite. And that includes our gateway communities, Fresno, Merced, Oakhurst, Mariposa, Groveland, and Mammoth.”
The Auction
“Mountain Tools has been a big supporter of us for years. They always donate gear for us and support us in any way they can,” continues Tarpinian. This year, Mountain Tools is auctioning off a Climber’s Luggage bag that “is built to take all the punishment of car camping, air travel, or many seasons of overland trekking.” The current bid is $55 USD.
Additional Mountain Tools gear includes the Jet Slipsteam pack, Wall Bags, sling package, bolt bag, and gear slings.
Copies of Corey Rich’s book Stories Behind the Images are available, signed by the author. Additional signed images are available by Shawn Reeder and Michael Reynolds. Lodging options include a two-night glamping stay at Autocamp in Midpines or a two-night stay at a private cabin in Yosemite West. Penny Otwell’s artwork is available. Custom day hikes, guided yoga and meditation, and a custom adventure for two people are also available.
The grand prize, valued at $10,000 USD, includes:
Box Set includes signed prints:
-Royal Robbins & Liz atop Half Dome after first female ascent of a Grade VI, Regular NW, 1967; Signed by: Liz Robbins; Artist: Summit Bystander
-Yvon Chouinard, Circle of Pitons, Camp 4, 1969; Signed by: Yvon Chouinard; Artist: Glen Denny
-Billy Westbay, Jim Bridwell, and John Long after the Nose in-a-day, El Capitan, 1975; Signed by: John Long & Mike White; Artist: Mike White
-Peter Croft & John Bachar: First one day linkup of Half Dome & El Capitan, 1985; Signed by: Peter Croft & Phil Bard; Artist: Phil Bard
-Lynn Hill, first free ascent of the Nose, El Capitan, 1993; Signed by: Lynn Hill; Artist: John Bachar
-Ron Kauk on Peace, Medlicott Dome, Tuolumne Meadows, 1995; Signed by: Ron Kauk & Chris Falkenstein; Artist: Chris Falkenstein
-Dean Potter, first free solo ascent of Heaven, Glacier Point Apron, 2001; Signed by: Mikey Schaefer; Artist: Mikey Schaefer
– Alex Honnold, Thank God Ledge, Regular NW Face, Half Dome, 2011; Signed by: Alex Honnold & Jimmy Chin; Artist: Jimmy Chin
-Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, Dawn Wall, El Capitan, 2015; Signed by: Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson, & Corey Rich; Artist: Corey Rich
-Babsi Zangerl on the Pre-Muir, El Capitan, 2019; Signed by: Babsi Zangerl & Jacopo Larcher; Artist: Jacopo Larcher
Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of climbing history. Place your bid today!
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