Salathe and Ax Nelson's famous climb was of the southwest face of Half Dome, not to be confused with the regular or northwest face by Royal Robins, Mike Sherrick and Jerry Gallwas, which was the first grade VI climb done in the U.S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_RobbinsSome people confuse the Salathe Route on El Cap with John Salathe, thinking that maybe he did it first, when in fact the Salathe Route was done by Royal Robins who name it after John Salathe.
I had a chance to ask Royal Robins once when he was giving a slide show in town if he knew what Salathe thought of him naming the route after him, and he said he didn't know. He seemed to wonder himself how Salathe would have thought about it, as Salathe was alive then. I thought it very odd that Robins didn't know. But, I guess he hung around in different circles. I think that by that time Salathe was having some demensia if what I read was correct. Robins suggested that I ask Warren Harding, which I had the chance to do about a year later. He had no idea. Warren was in town for another slide show the following year. I was very lucky to have been able to catch their slide shows and talks. You have to admire these men. It was sad to hear about Warren passing away only a few years later.
Anyone know how Royal is doing these days?
