*This is a 2019 archived project, view this year’s projects here.

Yosemite Valley’s world-famous rock walls draw climbers from around the globe. As soon as those climbers step off the Valley floor, they enter the Yosemite Wilderness.

Thanks to the interactive Ask a Climber program in Yosemite Valley, visitors can connect with the vertical wilderness without scaling a wall. In spring and autumn, climbing rangers offer daily programs in El Capitan Meadow; in July and August, they lead weekly walks. They also offer presentations to visiting school groups and help educate fellow climbers about environmental stewardship.

Whether zooming in on the walls through a telescope, learning about geology or getting a gear demonstration, Ask a Climber participants gain a deeper understanding of the park’s granite features — and the people who climb them.

In 2019, your support helped nearly 25,000 visitors of all ages connect with Yosemite’s vertical wilderness through conversations with climbing rangers and Climber Stewards in El Capitan Meadow, Ask a Climber walks, and climbing-focused evening programs at park campgrounds.

Completed in partnership with Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Climbing Association.

Kristin Kirschner

Wilderness Patrol Supervisor, Yosemite National Park

Project Notes

For the millions of park visitors that will never have the opportunity to climb the walls in Yosemite Valley, the Ask a Climber program allows them to explore the world of climbing and experience the connections between climbing and Yosemite’s resources.