Whitmore Big Brute Piton

Object/Artifact

-

Yosemite Climbing Museum

The infamous Big Brute and Little Brute pitons. These crudely made pitons were extremely heavy and of doubtful dependability. Harding stood up on the Big Brute high up on the wall and it and he fell and was hit in the head with it. He completed the pitch and when Wayne Merry and Whitmore reached Harding he was sitting on a sloping ledge, back against the wall, arms folded, and glowering with a large lump on his forehead. To this day the sloping ledge is called the Glowering Spot.

The infamous Big Brute and Little Brute pitons. These crudely made pitons were extremely heavy and of doubtful dependability. Harding stood up on the Big Brute high up on the wall and it and he fell and was hit in the head with it. He completed the pitch and when Wayne Merry and Whitmore reached Harding he was sitting on a sloping ledge, back against the wall, arms folded, and glowering with a large lump on his forehead. To this day the sloping ledge is called the Glowering Spot.

Name/Title

Whitmore Big Brute Piton

Entry/Object ID

2026.1.10

Description

I-Beam Steel Piton used by George Whitmore, Wayne Merry, and Warren Harding.

Use

Piton

Context

Affectionally nicknamed the "Big Brute" piton because of its weight. The Piton was used on a pitch of the Nose by Warren Harding. When he placed the piton, he stepped on it and it and him fell, hitting him on the head leaving a knot on his forehead. He finished the pitch, got up to the sloping ledge, and when Whitmore and Merry got up to him, he was glowering in the back. Giving the name "The Glowering Spot" to this place on El Capitan.

Collection

Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent Collection

Category

Climbing Hardware, Pitons

Acquisition

Accession

2026.1

Notes

Acquired by Ken Yager in 1993 from George Whitmore at his house in Fresno, California.

Made/Created

Artist

George Whitmore

Date made

circa 1950 - circa 1958

Notes

Suspected to be made around 1956-1957

Dimensions

Dimension Description

length and width

Width

2-1/2 in

Length

12-1/16 in

Material

steel

Location

Location

Display Case

Exhibit Case 07

Date

January 20, 2026

Provenance

Provenance Detail

George Whitmore

Owner/Agent

George Whitmore

Role

Creator

Notes

Gifted to Ken Yager by George Whitmore in 1993 at his personal home in Fresno.

General Notes

Note Type

Cataloging Note

Note

Caption in Museum is: "The infamous Big Brute and Little Brute pitons. These crudely made pitons were extremely heavy and of doubtful dependability. Harding stood up on the Big Brute high up on the wall and it and he fell and was hit in the head with it. He completed the pitch and when Wayne Merry and Whitmore reached Harding he was sitting on a sloping ledge, back against the wall, arms folded, and glowering with a large lump on his forehead. To this day the sloping ledge is called the Glowering Spot."

Create Date

January 20, 2026

Update Date

January 20, 2026