Stomper, Mariuolumne Dome 5.10a

Tuolumne Meadows, California USA

Currently 3.0/5

Avg time to climb route: 2-4 hours

Approach time: 1.5-2 hours

Descent time: 1.5-2 hours

Number of pitches: 5

Height of route: 500'

Overview

FA: Alan Bartlett, Don Reid, Dimitri Barton, August 1980.

Steep, burly, old-school crack climbing up fractured rock, Stomper is a lesser traveled climb up the main wall of Mariuolumne Dome. On the second pitch, Stomper has a physical 5.9 fist/offwidth that will be the crux for many people, especially those with smaller hands. The crux pitch has really cool, thought-provoking moves up a leaning corner/chimney/lieback, but starts with a short (but powerful and awkward) crux moving from an overhung hand crack to a flare.
The fourth pitch is relatively easy, but involves delicate climbing on slightly crumbly face and knobs around dangerously perched blocks. This pitch mandates extreme care for both leader and follower – especially since any block kicked loose would land in the roping up area for the 4th class traverse to Hobbit Book, and also likely continue down onto Euro Trash.

Despite the bomber pro and good climbing, Stomper has seen very little traffic since it was established, and this is reflected in the flakey rock and lichen in many spots. It’s easy to bypass the fist/offwidth pitch by climbing the second pitch 5.8 handcrack of Mordor.

Climber Beta on Stomper