1st Pitch of Snake Dike (5.7 R) - Yosemite Clip #35

Matt's POV leading the first 100' pitch of Snake Dike. This pitch is completely unprotected. Meaning that there is nowhere to place gear into the wall as one climbs. The style of climbing that this route requires is called friction climbing. Leaned in, hands flat and heels down is the name of the game. Notice how their aren't any handholds aside from small bumps and round edges of flake. Shortly after this video ended, Matt built an equalized anchor and was setting my belay when... He drops his belay device. From the bottom I hear an, " Oh no!" I was getting on my climbing shoes when I heard a peculiar clinking from the South. It was Matt's belay device tumbling down the long shoulder of Half Dome. I then hollered up, "I guess you're belaying me with a Munter hitch?!" Unfortunately, neither of us got footage of the fumble.