Van Belladrome

Peter Croft > Threads > Van Belladrome
By remus at 10:06:57 on 2nd November 2025.

Anyone heard of this route before? There's an interview in Mountain 143 (1992) where it's mentioned that he onsighted it and a grade of 13c is given, which feels like a pretty significant ascent for Peter.

I've had a look on mountainproject and can't find anything with that name, and likewise some googling isn't bringing up much.

Post #1 by remus OP at 10:06:57 on 2nd November 2025. Edited at 10:07:41 on 2nd November 2025.

The route is called "Van Belle O Drome" in the Yosemite Free Climbs guidebook (Reid, 1994). It's located on a little cliff next to the road between The Cookie and Arch Rock in Lower Yosemite. It's not in Mountain Project that I can find, should be Roadside Attraction area: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106691473/ag-roadside-attraction. FA Hidetaka Suzuki in 1990, Peter Croft made the second ascent "without bolts" but no date given (all from the Reid guide).

Found and cleaned by Bob van Belle (BVB on supertopo). http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=178818&msg=178818#msg178818

Post #2 by duncancritchley at 20:18:13 on 4th November 2025. Edited at 20:28:37 on 4th November 2025.

Thanks duncan, really helpful :) I've put a brief page together here https://climbing-history.org/climb/6354/van-belle-o-drome

Interesting that it doesn't seem to get much attention. You can usually rely on Honnold to seek out these kinda things but even he hasn't logged it!

Post #3 by remus OP at 08:35:50 on 5th November 2025.