Located 50-miles north of The Pines Resort, El Capitan is a popular destination for rock climbers. Although, the beautiful granite that was once considered impossible to climb has since become the standard for big-wall climbing. In fact, parts of El Capitan were considered in the 50 Classic Climbs of North America in a book written by Steve Roper and Allen Steck.
El Capitan, Yosemite National Park
Still, with as mesmerizing as the El Capitan is, it’s become increasingly popular since Alex Honnold’s free solo climb on June 3, 2017.
Yes, you read that correctly.
In 2017, Honnold, who first began rock climbing at the age of 10, made the first free solo climb along El Capitan. The 2,900 foot ascent was completed in less than 4 hours, and makes Honnold the only person to ever free-solo the popular Yosemite National Park boulder.
Meet Alex Honnold
Born August 17, 1985 in Sacramento, California, Alex Honnold began climbing several times a week by the age of 10. And, while Honnold has loved climbing for most of his life, it is something he has admittedly had to improve on over time. He has been quoted as saying “There were a lot of other climbers who were much, much stronger than me… like they just have a natural gift. And that was never me.”
But what prompted Honnold to make the risky decision to attempt a solo climb up Yosemite’s El Capitan? Why is his climb so significant?
Well, taking risks is nothing new for Honnold. From climbing inside the indoor climbing gyms as a 5 year old to partaking in youth climbing championships as a teen, Honnold has been pushing himself for most of his life. So is the notion that he would attempt to solo climb a surprise? Well, in 2007, Honnold did free solo Yosemite’s Astroman and the Rostrum, so big risks aren’t exactly new to him.
But Honnold’s attempt to free solo climb along El Capitan? Uh, well, that is one for the books… and the movie theater.
The ‘Free Solo’ Along El Capitan
In 2018, the documentary titled Free Solo was released.
We should note, free soloing isn’t something to take lightly. As Tommy Caldwell, an experienced climber who has climbed El Capitan with Alex Honnold (and ropes!), has said:
“Imagine an Olympic gold medal-level achievement where if you don’t get that gold medal, you’re going to die… I think everyone who has made free soloing a big part of their career is dead by now.”
Still, while the oscar-winning documentary is about Honnold’s extreme climbing and the challenges that come with that (especially when climbing El Capitan, which claimed two lives in June 2018), it captures so much more. The film, Free Solo, shows Honnold’s hard work, persistence, and his evolving as an individual– including the development of his first deeply committed relationship with Cassandra “Sanni” McCandless and emotional challenges he faces.
Of course, this movie has brought more attention to Yosemite National Park and interest in rock climbing, but rock climbing isn’t the only activity to be enjoyed in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite National Park Activities
Hiking
Hiking is one of the best ways to experience Yosemite in an intimate way, away from the crowds. It’s a great bonding experience as well as a wonderful, therapeutic workout.
Of course, there are a few trails we think you’ll enjoy:
Mirror Lake Trail
This is one of the only trails in Yosemite that is open year-round. It starts at the very end of the Yosemite Valley and is located at the base of Half Dome.
Taft Point
This is one of the most breathtaking lookouts in Yosemite. It is an easy hike through the woods that leads to a sheer 1 km cliff looking out over Yosemite Valley. The sunsets here are amazing.
Mist Trail (Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall)
This is one of the most popular trails in the park. Here you can see two waterfalls, that flow from the same river. The lower portion is open year-round, but the upper portion closes depending on the weather in the winter.
You can find detailed information on the trails by reading our blog post The Best Activities in Yosemite and Bass Lake.
Biking
While not all roads are bike-able (some are too narrow and/or steep), the majority of the park can be cycled and you can stop anywhere to walk some of the trails. Best of all, you can focus on absorbing the beauty of the park without worrying about parking.
Activities Just Outside of Yosemite
Venture to The Pines Resort on Bass Lake, and you’ll find plenty more ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Water sports
As the winter snow from higher elevations begins to melt, Bass Lake fills up and becomes a beautiful place for water sports. Fortunately, Bass Lake Watersports is a hop a skip away and has what you need to get out on the water.
Located onsite and right next to Ducey’s on the Lake, Bass Lake Watersports is open year-round, offering equipment such as:
- Kayaks
- Canoes
- Jet skis
- Wakeboards
- Water skis
- Tubing equipment & more!
Biking
In Bass Lake, you can opt to take on an intermediate trail such as Goat Mountain or a more advanced trail like the popular 007. Keep in mind, both trails require slightly different bikes.
For Goat Mountain, a 4+ mile round-trip and leads to a spectacular view of Yosemite, your typical mountain bike will suffice. But, for the popular 007 Trail or the Willow Creek Trails, you should opt for a full-suspension bike.
Click here to read more about biking in Bass Lake.
Hiking
While there are several trails in and around the Bass Lake-Yosemite area, Way of the Mono is one of the popular ones. Only two miles from The Pines Resort, Way of the Mono is a 1+ mile loop with a scenic vista– Mono Rock– overlooking Bass Lake. In addition to it being a fantastic photo spot, the trail is easy to navigate and perfect for hikers of all ages and experience levels.
Another beautiful trail to hike is Willow Creek in Bass Lake, CA. Located just 7-miles from The Pines Resort, the Willow Creek trail is positioned high above the actual creek. This trail provides you with an opportunity to see waterfalls as well as an opportunity to relax and play in the creek.
Lakeside Pool, Hot Tub and Beach
After a day of hiking or biking, some rest and relaxation will definitely be in order. What better way to get that than in the lakeside pool, hot tub, or beach at The Pines Resort?
That’s right!
When staying at The Pines Resort, you’ll have access to our lakeside pool, hot tub, and beach. Pair these amenities with the beautiful pine trees surrounding the property and a beverage of your choice from Ducey’s Bar & Grill (or the poolside bar during summer!), and you have an incredibly relaxing evening.
Read more at blog.basslake.com to stay up to date on all there is to know when visiting Bass Lake.
You can learn more about Alex Honnold and “Free Solo” by visiting these pages:
You might also like
Leave A Reply