Gripped Magazine
A New 13-Pitch Climb in Yosemite Has Been Completed
Hummingbird is a new big wall route on Sentinel Rock in Yosemite, established by Taylor Martin solo at the start of August. This 1,600-foot 5.9+ A4 spans 13 pitches, with 11 being previously unclimbed terrain.
It’s a technical aid climb requiring extensive use of beaks (over 20 on some pitches), delicate hooks, and copperheads, with Martin fixing several bolts bolts. The route crosses Flying Buttress Direct (5.10 C2) twice but is over 90 per cent independent, navigating a rarely travelled aspect of Sentinel Rock, moving right from the Steck-Salathé into a wild, exposed line.
This is Martin’s third big wall first ascent in Yosemite, following Dirt Worm (5.9 A3 R, 1,500 ft) on Yosemite Falls Wall and The Infinite Now (5.10a A4 R, 1,500 ft) on Camp 4 Wall in 2024. According to Climbing, the route was inspired by a tip from local climber Stu Kuperstock about an unfinished line attempted by Everett Phillips.
In March of this year, Martin established Surf’s Up, a 5.9 A4+ on Utah’s Hellgate Wall, after which she told us, “It was epic, actually. The snow was wet and waist-deep — kind of scary — and I was worried it might avalanche. So, getting off was probably the scariest part of the whole thing. I ended up using a rope and traverse-rappelling across the ledge.” Read more about it here.
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