On Saturday morning we lounged around in the parking lot eating delicious breakfast in the sun, no rush. Then we drove to the valley proper and climbed the first five pitches (standard) of the Central Pillar of Frenzy (5.9), a favourite climb in Yosemite. In the spring, there is a large snow cone at the base, which conveniently bypasses the grovelling in the lower chimney. We weren't complaining! This also allowed for straightforward linking of the first 2 pitches. The 2nd pitch is probably the best: lots of exposure and very steep climbing in a double crack system. That said, there are no lame pitches on this climb - they are all awesome and each of them memorable! I dragged up my SLR to play around with the ultra-wide angle lens but the light was pretty crappy - still nice to experiment and learn a thing or two, and I did get a couple of shots I was happy with. Getting good photos while belaying is tricky though, the angles are pretty important and you really need to be able to walk around.

Then we rappelled and ate lunch in the meadow - avocado, cheese, tomatoes, salami with pitas... I'm drooling as I type it. After lounging around, a trip to Yosemite Falls and Camp 4 was in order... I had actually never been to the falls before, so it was cool to check them out! Rich and Sophia were supposedly in Camp 4 but the place was so packed there was no chance to find anyone!! Afterward we went to the pizza deck, but they were super lame and wanted a corkage fee for our wine (it's a hole in the wall open to the outside, with some dirty picnic tables... how can you ask people for a corkage fee!?). Out of principle we wouldn't pay it, and by the time we came back to eat the place was closed - oh well, at least they didn't get our money! We wanted more food though, so the lodge bar, being the only thing open, had some chicken wraps.

More fun in the sun on Sunday! Neither of us had done "Commitment" on the Open Books area and I heard it was nice, so that was our objective. I was quite sick at this point (bad cold) so something short was a good idea. The climb is pretty nice, it's no central pillar, but still a great climb: 3 pitches of 5.9. We walked to the start of Salaginella (5-6 more pitches, 5.8 to the top of the cliff) to scope it out - together this would be a nice longer moderate day for another time.

Great weather and great laughs - perfect weekend!

	Parking lot breakfast special

	Amazing breakfast		mmm, peanut butter!

	Looking at the climb.		Melissa with the first pitches of Central Pillar of Frenzy and a party starting up

	The snowcone is more than halfway up the first pitch, yay!	The snow has already softened up enough to walk	Out of the chimney on the 1st pitch

	On top of the 1st pitch	On top of the 2nd pitch (linked 1 & 2)	Looking up at the 3rd pitch - fun roof

	Looking down the first two pitches	El Cap on a beautiful spring day	The valley is beautiful!

	Closer view of El Cap: a lot bigger than it looks in pictures!

	Melissa enjoying the stellar double cracks on the Central Pillar	Passing gear

	Stacking the ropes

			Contemplating the roof moves briefly - pitch 3

	Over the roof	Over the roof, the offwidth is next

	The 4th pitch is also quite nice!	Melissa searching for jams in the offwidth	For me, it was more of a hand/fist size. True offwidth for those with smaller hands :)

	Almost there	Yay!

	On the 4th pitch

	Melissa showing solid jams	The last pitch starts with an easy chimney	Looking comfortable in the chimney :)

	El Cap	Topping out

		Lunch!	Sunset @ Half Dome

			Lower Yosemite Falls

			Yosemite Falls

		Studying the topo for Commitment

	First pitch of Commitment, Open Books	I like to carry a large pack on short climbs as a sport...	Melissa and Half Dome

	What a place!		Me and Half Dome

	On top of the 2nd pitch	Looking down the second pitch

	The roof that gave the climb its name	Melissa on the 2nd pitch	Undercling

		Contemplating the next moves that give the climb its name

	On the 2nd roof/crux	Hello there!	Half Dome

	Happy on the ground