New Hard Yosemite Route on Higher Cathedral

Gripped Magazine September 22, 2014

Cheyne Lempe and Ehan Pringle have climbed a new route in Yosemite, ground up. The 330-metre route is on Higher Cathedral Rock in Yosemite.

The duo named their route The Constant Gardener 5.11+R A3 and did not use any fixed lines.

There was no information in available modern guidebooks about ascents on the wall. Near the top, Lempe and Pringle found some old fixed gear.

Lempe later found information in a 1971 Steve Roper guidebook that said: “V, 5.9, A4 Most of this intimidating wall was climbed in July 1960 by Yvon Chouinard, Chuck Pratt, and Bob Kamps. Eight years later Pratt returned with Dennis Hennek to climb to the top—the 1960 party escaped off the face to the left. This 330-metre face averages 90-degrees and is characterized by difficult piton placing.”

"Shooting Lempe and Pringle while they put up a first ascent on Higher Cathedral Rock wasn't Plan A. Or Plan B. Or even Plan C. But the boys were set on finding something adventurous, and the north face of HCR certainly delivered. I had the pleasure of tagging along as they forged their way up thin seams, bushy cracks, and wild roofs on this little bigwall on Friday and Saturday. Here Ethan delicately onsights his way through some dirty 5.11+ R, one of the coolest things I've witnessed in one of more spectacular locations I've ever seen in Yosemite." -Photo and words by Austin Siadak — “Shooting Lempe and Pringle while they put up a first ascent on Higher Cathedral Rock wasn’t Plan A. Or Plan B. Or even Plan C. But the boys were set on finding something adventurous, and the north face of HCR certainly delivered. I had the pleasure of tagging along as they forged their way up thin seams, bushy cracks, and wild roofs on this little bigwall on Friday and Saturday. Here Ethan delicately onsights his way through some dirty 5.11+ R, one of the coolest things I’ve witnessed in one of more spectacular locations I’ve ever seen in Yosemite.” -Photo and words by Austin Siadak on Facebook

The Constant Gardener – Trailer from Mountain Hardwear on Vimeo.

Source: DLFA

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The Best Climbing Gear According to Our Editors – April