Valley of Giants

Introduction

Women have always been at the center of Yosemite–climbing, crafting equipment, and establishing new routes. In Valley of Giants, editor and climber Lauren DeLaunay Miller highlights nearly forty journal excerpts, original essays, interviews, archival materials, and memorable firsts that span the past century of climbing in the Valley. Organized into five parts representing distinct eras in Yosemite climbing history, this anthology captures a range of stories from heartbreaking losses to soaring joys, trip reports of significant ascents to moments that convey the larger essence of the Valley–and what it means to call this iconic place “home.”