The pilgrimage to Yosemite for any climber is a momentous occasion. Drawn to the valley by it’s history and beauty, Yosemite has become a place of young men and women transforming into giants, seeking adventure and unafraid of the unknown. Over the years, the stories told on the valley floor have grown into tall tales themselves that continue to inspire a whole new generation of climbers. Perhaps each of us long for adventure but are looking for a catalyst that will light our longing on fire. Yosemite in the Fifties is just that, a physical catalyst for lighting dreams on fire.
Book Review: Yosemite in the Fifties: The Iron Age
Edited by Dean Fidelman and John Long
Yosemite in the Fifties, edited by Dean Fidelman and John Long, is not just a book but a time machine into the past. When encountering such a book, one’s first thoughts are to brew a coffee, get comfortable, and slowly take in each photo as they paint a picture of a time that feels forgotten. Despite being romantically swept away by pictures of the earlier pioneers like Bob Swift and Allen Steck, or the pictures of Warren Harding and Royal Robbins racking up on the the valley floor, it is the stories behind each image that will capture all of your attention.
Through a series of short essays, Yosemite in the Fifties weaves us through the fifties, first introducing us to John Salathé in all his power and perseverance. It is here that we fall in love with his adventure and innovation, as Salathé battles with the Lost Arrow Spire. Followed by essays on Royal Robbins and Warren Harding, we are swept along through the history of Yosemite big walls, as well as stories from a handful of other characters including Allen Steck and Bill Long, Bob Swift and Frank Tarver and finally ending with insightful words into Bill Feuerer and Mark Powell.
Overall, this collection of stories transforms you back to the ‘Iron age’ of Yosemite Valley. Filled with beautiful imagery of granite walls and old cars, Yosemite in the Fifties allows you to step into the boots of those who came before, setting the path for the modern age. The pictures alone are worth the price, but it is the stories that will light a fire under your imagination and let you daydream of packing up the car for a life much simpler.
Yosemite in the Fifties can be purchased online at Patagonia.com ($66.95 CAD) or at The Patagonia Vancouver Store.
