"Goliath" The name sounds cool. That is what sparked the attention to the route in the first place. Plus, the summit of the Lost Brother had not been obtained yet.

After pestering Eric Gabel (one of the FA) for a bit of information, he promptly sent some nice tidbits concerning the mammoth warrior, among others. Actually, there wasn't any real pestering though. Just kidding. I asked and he simply gave and gave. I love it. Keeps the mind busy with ideas of further adventure. Thank you!

Lets go ahead about a year, or so later from my internet retrieval of information on Goliath.

In that time the battle with this giant was staged on at least three different occasions with three different people. This premeditated battle just didn't work out ever due to multiple issues. Memory says it was mostly due to me with things like health of body and/or mind, and work opportunities. Oh, and the possibility of being just a bit intimidated. As in, "Yeah, that route Goliath sure seems a bit big for today. Lets go to The Pulpit!"

So, this young guy shows up to climb for a few weeks. He has the same name as me. We are the Bobs.

This other Bob has shared a rope with me on routes such as West Face of El Cap, Chouinard/Herbert, and a nice day on Fairview with a trifecta of Heart of Stone, What Would Jeff Do, and The Regular Route. This guy can climb and has more spunk than my aging ass, but he still hadn't jumped on an "adventure route" in the Valley to help round out his bag of tricks for future sends. Goliath would be a perfect way to round out his experiences and allow us the pleasure of a genuine adventure route together. Maybe even a second ascent, though my rational mind says that most likely wouldn't be the case in 12 years. Who knows?.

And it was a grand adventure as any route with a name and description such as this should be. Complete with interesting route finding for the initial pitches, moss, munge, and loose blocks to which the climber and the climber's rope needed to avoid. There was also this insidious lichen which imitated grey granite near the top of the route on the last pitch. Don't put your foot there or "POP!" Had me fooled. Good SH#T.

Here are some photos. These were taken with an old and very possessed Iphone. They are not quality photos, but show you folk this grand intimidator of armies named Goliath.

RECOMMENDED GEAR ON TOPO: leather sling and 5 stones. Ha! just kidding. Doubles to 6 and possible 8" tube thingy if you happen to be big.

GEAR WE TOOK: Doubles to 6 No tube thingy. I'm a pole and the other Bob is a midget.

GEAR WE RECOMMEND AFTER CLIMBING THE ROUTE: Doubles to 3. Singles of 4,5,6 new style camalots or the like. This rack will require some punching skills on wide or the simple skill of walking a big piece here, or there. Doubles to 6 is a huge F-ING rack for a pole and a midget. The bushes like a huge rack too!

There is a reasonable rap down a new route called "Call of the Yeti" which will require two 70 m ropes or two 60 m ropes using some shenanigans on the lip of very steep terrain. Gulp. Info on Sloan's Site. Google it.

The route stays in the shade all day for the most part. As one climbs up, the route itself twists around the front of the formation as the sun twists around the back. Pretty cool! Literally.

We linked 4 and 5, 6 and 7.
Overall, this is a grand adventure route that goes to one of the best summits. Such a great, earned perspective of Yosemite Valley.

Thank you for your time. Hope someone enjoys this rig.

Bob Jensen