One of the many types of full time avian residents found in Yosemite are Peregrine Falcons. Since most falcons make their nests in high cliff walls or dead tree snags Yosemite makes an ideal breeding ground. Each year the National Park Service closes several climbing routes until nesting pairs have finished fledging their young and the baby birds are ready to move on from the cliff nests. Here’s a list of areas closed for climbing until August 1st or until the young falcons have fully fledged.
The Rostrum
Lower Merced Canyon. Closure includes “Super Nova” and extends west to all climbing routes on all sides of the Rostrum. The “Jungle Gym” area remains open. Slack-lining is prohibited at the summit and the top of the adjacent cliff.
Fifi Buttress
Immediately west of Leaning Tower. Closure includes all routes on Fifi Buttress.
Glacier Point, East Side
East of Glacier Point Apron. Closw’e includes all routes above 200 feet from the base of the cliff east of Glacier Point Apron including “A Mother’s Lament” to the Illilouette Gorge.
Hetch Hetchy, Wapama Cliff
Closed area includes all routes on Wapama Cliff between Wapama Falls west to Tueeulala Falls.
Additionally, the following areas are closed as of May 21, 2009:
Half Dome, South Face
Overlooking Little Yosemite Valley. Closure includes all routes from Autobahn” east to and including South Face Route.
Arch Rock Area
Lower Merced Canyon. Closure includes all routes above Arch Rock, from “GRE” east to but not including “Juliette’s Flake”, including “Cross Country,” “Kindergarten Crack,” “Quickie Quizzes,” and Arch Rock Pinnacle. The routes from “Anticipation” east to “Grokin” remain open.