Matthes Crest July 2004 - Romain Wacziarg

South to North Traverse (5.7) of Matthes Crest (3,328m / 10,918 ft)

Yosemite National Park, CA, July 30, 2004,

(Click image for larger view)

1. Cathedral Peak from the Budd Creek approach	2. Echo Peaks
3. Meadows on the approach to Matthes Crest	4. The first pitch (5.6), which I am about to lead.
5. Bob Burd ponders the first pitch up to the crest.
6. René leads the second pitch (5.5) m	7. Bob awaits us on the crest, having soloed the first two pitches.
8. Traversing the 3rd class crest to the notch separating the South and North summits.	9. Approaching the South summit.
10. The South (L) and North (R) summits from the Southern part of the crest.
11. René leads up the 5.7 crack up to the North Summit	12. Belaying René (1).
13. Belaying René (2) m	14. View South from the North summit. Two climbers are resting on the South summit.
15. On the summit, with Bob Burd.
16. More of the same.	17. The summit register.
18. René enjoying the summit	19. On the Northern part of the traverse. Things get a bit harder and we simulclimb.
20. The extraordinary "wave" pitch. The granite wave is overhanging to the east.
21. Bob on the traverse.	22. Leaving the crest, we head for Echo Col.
23. Matthes Crest, viewed from the North.
24. Cathedral Peak from Echo Col.	25. Echo Peak #8, which we are about to climb.
26. Matthes Crest from the summit of Echo Peak #8	27. Echo Peak # 9 from the summit of #8