Sunk 20 miles into the backcountry, it's only been climbed once in 1979 by Galen Rowell, Claude Fiddler and Vern Clevenger. 

I slowly racked up to delay the inevitable; eventually I was going to have to start climbing, and I was probably going to fall.

I had recently finished my first 50 mile running race, so he assumed I was up to suffer.

The call came the way we always imagine it will, but never expect.

The crux moves on Star Trekkin' were STELLAR, I couldn't believe how fun they were.

Spire after spire, summit log after summit log, the Full Palisade Traverse is the biggest climb in the Sierra and probably also the most spectacular.

I caught wind of The Citadel maybe two years ago, reading how huge Sierra car-to-car days, 32 miles round trip, could be had on this incredible peak. I put it on the list right away, but the area was elusive, mysterious, remote.

Matthes Crest is a ready made one-peak traverse in a Heavenly setting.

Some routes hog all the glory. Others that are just as good are cut from the list, wallow in obscurity, and cry at home alone in their bedroom

After months of banter, postponing and planning, our “super secret plan” to stamp Pullharder on the First Winter Ascent of Peter Croft’s Evolution Traverse was ready to be launched into action

The Temple-Gayley-Sill traverse takes the obvious line from the summit of Tample crag, down and back up the ridge leading to Mt. Gayley, then down the ridge towards Mt. Sill and back up the Swiss Arete.

Disappointed that our top-secret really big plans had fallen through for various reasons (weather, partners, & psych), Ben Horne (aka the zoom locomotive) suggested that we try an alternate plan that was merely regular-big.

“I believe. I believe. I believe.” Staring at the ceiling of my car, parked at the foot of Lone Pine Peak. 2:45 a.m. on a February morning, trying to psyche myself through the doubts that kept creeping through my head. “It is within me. Believe.”

I love soloing alpine because I can reflect and take in the fantastic vistas when I want to stop, and I'm able to zoom at my own pace when I feel good.

Returning from an ascent of Bear Creek Spire this weekend, Konstantin and I got into the topic of Winter climbing. This conversation, transcribed essentially verbatim, contains pretty diverse perspectives on why we go to the Sierra in Winter.

The Sierra season is short, we are told. July through September, then the snows come. True, but in the Range of Light, the sun comes out again after the storm and warms the rock faces.

We got to Badwater at dark amidst a spectacular display of lightning bolts. The wind was blowing crazy the sand was blowing in our faces and stinging. Does Honey Badger care?

The Warrior is at home when engaged in war, when strategy is put to action. The Pirate is at home roaming the open seas. And the climber…well that’s what many climbers ponder

Temple Crag is a beautiful monstrous peak with the biggest technical routes in the Sierra, all lined up one next to the other.