Start of Yosemite climbing

Yosemite climbing began in the 1930's. The ascent of Half Dome took place much earlier, but that's a whole separate story. David Brower and others made a few ascents using hemp ropes and soft iron pitons. After World War II a number of pioneer climbers made historic ascents in the late forties and early fifties. Names you should remember are Salathe and Allen Steck. They climbed the Sentinel in 1950. The "Golden Age" of Yosemite climbing occurred from about 1958 to 1972. Most of the major formations and walls were climbed during this period. Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, Yvon Chouinard, Steve Roper, Galen Rowell and Tom Frost are names you should remember. They used perlon ropes and steel pitons to push back the edge of the impossible. They spent days and sometimes weeks on the sides of cliffs.