Dolt Aluminum Piton

Object/Artifact

-

Yosemite Climbing Museum

Various aluminum pitons made by George Whitmore and used on the first ascent of the Nose of El Capitan completed in 1958 after 47 days of effort spread out over nearly a year and a half effort.

Various aluminum pitons made by George Whitmore and used on the first ascent of the Nose of El Capitan completed in 1958 after 47 days of effort spread out over nearly a year and a half effort.

Name/Title

Dolt Aluminum Piton

Entry/Object ID

2026.1.7

Description

Rectangular Aluminum Piton made by Bill "Dolt" Feuerer

Use

Piton

Context

Used by George Whitmore, Wayne Merry, and Warren Harding on the first ascent of the Nose of El Capitan completed in 1958. Retrieved by Tom Frost on the second ascent in 1960 from Boot Flake. Creator is unknown for sure but said to be either George Whitmore or Bill "Dolt" Feuerer. Dolt was known to make these types of Pitons as well. The two holes in the center were used to attach a second piton to the back, making it twice as large.

Collection

Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent Collection

Category

Climbing Hardware, Pitons

Acquisition

Accession

2026.1

Notes

Acquired in early 2000s

Made/Created

Artist Information

George Whitmore
Bill "Dolt" Feuerer

Notes

circa 1950s

Dimensions

Dimension Description

length and measurement of the widest part

Width

3 in

Length

8-1/4 in

Material

Aluminum

Location

Location

Display Case

Exhibit Case 07

Date

January 20, 2026

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Tom Frost

Notes

Retrieved by Tom Frost on the second ascent of the Nose and gifted to Ken Yager around 2006

General Notes

Note Type

Cataloging Note

Note

Caption in Museum is: "Various aluminum pitons made by George Whitmore and used on the first ascent of the Nose of El Capitan completed in 1958 after 47 days of effort spread out over nearly a year and a half effort."

Create Date

January 20, 2026

Update Date

January 24, 2026