One of THE classic routes in Yosemite, winding up the sponymous dike feature all the way to the top of Half Dome. The route was established ground-up and very sparsely bolted, with some full rope-length pitches having no gear at all. In 2026 the route was subject to much controversy when 16 bolts were added to the first three pitches by Erik Sloan, significantly changing the character of the route. These were later chopped, putting the route back to something like it's pre-existing state. [3]
[2] https://www.climbing.com/community/john-long-responds-to-new-bolts-on-snake-dike/
[3] https://www.climbing.com/news/the-controversial-snake-dike-bolts-have-been-chopped/
3 successful ascents recorded.
| Climber | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Beck | Alternate Leads | onsight | Jul 1965 | ||
| First ascent. With Chris Fredericks and Jim Bridwell. | ||||
| Chris Fredericks | Alternate Leads | onsight | Jul 1965 | ||
| First ascent. With Eric Beck and Jim Bridwell. | ||||
| Jim Bridwell | Alternate Leads | onsight | Jul 1965 | ||
| First ascent. With Chris Fredericks and Eric Beck. | ||||