Yosemite in the Sixties

An inside look at the renowned "Big Wall" era of Yosemite climbing, when legendary pioneers such as Yvon Chouinard, Royal Robbins, Steve Roper, Warren Harding, and more, achieved what others had only dreamed of. Glen Denny was there, along side his compatriots, lugging his camera to places never before captured on film.
The sheer granite walls of Yosemite Valley galvanized a dedicated group of rock climbers in the 1960s, who saw the nearly holdless, glacier-polished faces as the purest form of challenge. The awesome Half Dome and El Capitan were first climbed in the late 1950s, ushering in a new era of rock climbing later known as the golden age of Yosemite climbing. During this era, the climbers of the sixties developed the techniques, tools, and philosophies that made Yosemite the most influential rock climbing arena in the world. In the spirit of the social changes of the sixties, a small group of committed climbers dropped out of mainstream work and society and took up residence in Camp 4, perfecting their skills and developing a unique social scene. This austere, boulder-strewn campground became the epicenter of the climbing world. It served both as a launching pad for spectacular feats and adventures and a refuge from them. Here plans were made, teams were formed, and the rest of life was lived. Glen Denny, a prominent climber at the time, captured the magnificence of the mountains, but also the more intimate aspects of the era: the personalities and parties, the aspirations and preparations, the loves and dreams of the climbers. This book, containing many previously unpublished photographs, presents a visual record of both the ctlimbs and the lifestyles of Yosemite in the Sixties.
The significance of Camp 4 has been recognized with its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.


About the Author :
Yvon Chouinard, a noted alpinist and environmentalist, is the founder of Patagonia, Inc., the clothing company. Prior to Patagonia, Chouinard founded the climbing hardware company Great Pacific Ironworks. He is known for developing the Hexcentrics system of climbing equipment, which provided a more versatile, lightweight, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pitons that damaged the rock faces. Much of Chouinard's research was done during his Big Wall days in Yosemite. Photographer and filmmaker Glen Denny was one of the denizens of Camp 4 in the sixties. As a leading climber of the time, he participated in and photographed many of the most significant ascents.

Review :
"The book's real charm lies in the quotidian moments it capture, a la Cartier-Bresson." -- Wall Street Journal

"The sixties were a golden age in Yosemite Valley, an era of first ascents and all-night parties in Camp 4. Camera in hand, Glen Denny captured both the gritty reality and the sunny optimism of these years." -- Banff Mountain Festivals magazine

"An amazing black-and-white chronicle of the golden age of American rock climbing." -- Steve Costie, director of The Mountaineers