Warren Harding Hammer
Warren Harding's piton hammer made from a modified center punch. The handle broke during earlier attempts on The Nose. After finding the head at the base, a new handle was carved from a local oak limb. A large dent can be seen in the center punch from hitting the ground after falling more than a thousand feet.
Name/Title
Warren Harding HammerEntry/Object ID
2026.1.13Description
The hammer Warren Harding used on the first ascent of the Nose completed in 1958.Use
To hammer in pitons and remove them from cracks.Context
The hammer was made from a modified center punch. The hammer was made out of this material because they needed heavier equipment to place the larger pitons. The original handle broke and the hammer fell over 1000 feet. There is an indentation on the hammer head from where the hammer hit the bottom. The team went down and searched the base of El Capitan where they found the head. They then reconstructed the handle out of local oakwood from Yosemite Valley. Attached to the handle is parachute cord, with a loop large enough to place over your head and shoulder. The orange tape is to protect the handle from accidental hits of the piton if you misplaced your aim. A small B is inscribed underneath the hammer head, probably for Harding's nickname, Batso.Collection
Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent CollectionCategory
Hammer