Peter Croft (climber)

Peter Croft (born May 18, 1958) is a Canadian rock climber and mountaineer. He has concentrated much of his rock climbing career on big routes in Yosemite National Park, Squamish, British Columbia as well as the High Sierra. He received The American Alpine Club’s Robert & Miriam Underhill Award in 1991.

Contents

• Peter croft guides 3rd pillar of dana
• Career highlights
• Books authored by Croft
• References

Croft listed The Evolution Traverse (YDS class 5.9 grade VI) which links Mount Mendel, Mount Darwin, Mount Haeckel, Mount Fiske, Mount Warlow and Mount Huxley as one of his favorite climbs in Fifty Favorite Climbs: The Ultimate North American Tick List

Royal Robbins, a leading climber of the previous generation, wrote about Croft and his climbing achievements in 2000: "Peter has been my hero for many years, ever since he came blazing out of nowhere with his stunning free solo ascent of Astroman on Washington Column in Yosemite. Tom Frost and I had made the second ascent of this route, mostly with direct aid in the early sixties. That one could climb this route without resorting to direct aid was impressive. To do it without a rope was astonishing. But such was Peter's level of mastery. That it was mastery, and not mere daring was proven by a string of free solos of similar stature, executed to perfection."

Career highlights

Croft has completed a large number of first ascents including a number of free solo ascents.

First ascent of Blowhard, V 5.12+, High Sierra, 2005

First ascent of Samurai Warrior, V 5.12a, High Sierra, 2005

First ascent of Venturi Effect V 5.12+, High Sierra, 2004

First ascent of Airstream V 5.13, High Sierra, 2004

First ascent of the Evolution Traverse, the Sierras, 2000

First ascent of Sponsar Brakk via 8,000-ft. rock route VI 5.11, Pakistan, 1998

First solo and one-day Minaret Traverse, the Sierras, 1992

First one-day link-up of the Nose and Salathé Wall on El Capitan, Yosemite, 1992

First free ascent of Moonlight Buttress V 5.12d/13a, 1991

First free ascent of the Shadow V 5.13, onsight of crux pitch, 1988

First free solo link-up of Astroman and the Rostrum, 1987

First free solo of Astroman V 5.11, 1987

First one-day link-up of the Nose of El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite, 1986

First traverse of the Waddington Range, 1985

First free solo of the Rostrum V 5.11, Yosemite, 1985

First free ascent of University Wall V 5.12, Squamish, 1982

Books authored by Croft

Croft, Peter (July 2002). The Good, the Great, and the Awesome: The Top 40 High Sierra Rock Climbs. Maximus Pr. ISBN 0-9676116-4-4. 

Croft, Peter; Steve Boga (August 1996). Lightweight Alpine Climbing With Peter Croft (1st ed.). Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2841-2. 

Croft, Peter; Wynne Benti (2005-09-01). Climbing Mt. Whitney (3rd ed.). Spotted Dog Press Inc. ISBN 1-893343-14-6.