Lost Arrow Spire, Yosemite Valley,  April 1978

Maybe the most “audacious” (foolish)  thing I’ve ever done was to climb the Lost Arrow,  which I had not climbed before, with fellow Yosemite Institue Instructor  Pete McGee – WHO HAD NEVER CLIMBED BEFORE THAT DAY!

In the end, fortune favored the foolish, the climb took most of the day, great Spring  weather ….and all went well.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Pete McGee on Salathe Ledge

“Absolutely!”

“What’s the matter, don’t you trust me?”

Pete belays on the spacious and fantastic Salathe Ledge.

Pete jumars the lead rope up to the stance at the end of Pitch 3.  The bushes seen below him are Oak trees 1400 feet directly below.  I  belayed him on a second rope  that was independant of the lead system so,  short of intentionally  unroping and jumping for it, … he was always tied in.

We topped out around sunset.  After rigging Pete’s system, I tyroleaned 150′ back to the rim  Pete followed over the 1500′ drop without difficulty.  Four miles back down to the Valley and  we made it to the Mountain Room Bar by 10pm!        : )