The quality videos keep rolling with this clip of Hayden Kennedy climbing the notorious Bachar-Yerian (5.11c R/X) on Tuolumne’s Medlicott Dome. First climbed by the legendary John Bachar and Dave Yerian in the early ’80’s, the line of knobs up an intimidating black streak is well known for its sustained and extremely runout climbing.
Somewhat of an unknown, Hayden Kennedy has climbed 5.14 sport routes and freed routes on El Cap so a route like the Bachar-Yerian was well within his physical limits. Apparently it was also within his mental limits as my spies on the ground tell me he climbed some of the pitches more than once to get the right shots for the below video. Here is what Kennedy himself had to say on the Black Diamond Journal about the climb:
The next day we were sitting in the cafeteria having breakfast with Ivo Ninov and we somehow just left and drove up to Tuolumne Meadows. Our goal was to climb the famous Bachar/Yerian (5.11c X). The route was put in ground-up by John Bachar in 1981—Bachar bolted the route on the lead and faced 80-foot falls. To this day the Bachar/Yerian is viewed as one of the headiest face climbs in the world. With a rich history and amazing rock and setting Ivo and I thought the B/Y was one of the best face climbs in the world. The climbing was amazing and the position was immaculate.
During his trip to Yosemite, Kennedy also climbed Half Dome and El Cap in a day. Read more at the Black Diamond Journal
Me, dave mortier, zach j, and aaron G were there when they filmed this:)
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I like how he clips that chicken head 3 feet above a shiny new bolt at 4:00. Totally sick, brah!!
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