Royal Arches is a super classic 16 pitch 5.7 A0...Crest Jewel is a MEGA classic 10-pitch 5.10a...and now that it has a 4-pitch direct start variation, it is an ULTRA HYPER classic 14-pitch 5.10d.

And, it just happens that Crest Jewel is directly ABOVE Royal Arches! As one might guess, linking them up for 30 classic pitches would make for a fun outing.

Here's the route as seen from Yosemite Valley. Royal Arches climbs the tree-studded face just left of the huge overhang. Crest Jewel climbs the right skyline of the obvious dome!

In this photo you can barely see a party climbing their way up Crest Jewel.

We arrived in the valley Friday night, and got up at 4:45am Saturday. After some morning coffee, we were on our way!

It took us a little over three hours to climb Royal Arches.

Following the traverse pitch (right after the rope swing):

Continuing up a nice crack pitch.

A party is visible several pitches below (arrow). They are at the end of the traverse pitch.

Heading for the final slab traverse pitches.

Done!

We simul-climbed most of the route: 3 short pitches, then 2 LONG pitches.  Our last pitch was close to 1,000 feet in length, and at the end of it the only gear Yuko had left was a #0 TCU, a #8 stopper, and a couple of carabiners. Perfect!

We then hiked along the valley rim to the start of Crest Jewel Direct.

We were not able to find a key cairn that is noted in the approach description, so we essentially scrambled straight up toward North Dome from the top of Washington Column. Probably not the easiest way to go but whatever, it got us there.

We could see a party on the dome climbing via the standard start (traversing in from the ledge on the left).

The new pitches of the direct start offer excellent climbing, which is relatively well protected.

The 5.10d pitch is essentially a bolt ladder!

The climbing was continuously aesthetic as we met up with the standard route.

Amazing rock formations were encountered on the way. I got to belay while SITTING on this enormous dike!

More spectacular climbing, all the way to the summit.

As we continued higher, the bolts seemed to get further and further apart (or were we getting more and more tired?)

We had truly ridiculous views of Half Dome the whole way up.  The only possible way to get a better view would be to charter a helicopter!!

Once on the summit, we were about 3,000 feet above the valley floor.

A full summit panorama:

Smiling for the camera:

And now it's time for...the descent!

We hit ground before dark, but then lost our way in the talus field at the base.  Eventually we made our way to the horse trail, followed it back to the parking lot...ate some food...and got some sleep! That was a FULL day!! 17 hours, car-to-car. Why did it take so long, you might ask? Here's the breakdown:

Royal Arches 3.5 hours (5:30am-->9:00am)

Hanging out, then finding the start of Crest Jewel Direct & roping up: 2 hours (9:00am-->11:00am). Definitely lost some time here!!

Climbing the route: 6.5 hours (11:00am-->5:30pm)

Lounging on top: 0.5 hours (5:30pm-->6:00pm)

Descending from North Dome to the Valley Rim: 1.5 hours (6:00pm-->7:30pm)

Descending the Valley Rim via the lower North Dome Gully to the Valley floor: 1.5 hours (7:30pm-->9:00pm)

Lost in the talus, and finally back to the car: 1 hour (9:00pm-->10:00pm)