Allen Steck

Steck began climbing in Yosemite Valley in 1947, initially learning the use of pitons by trial and error. He said that at that time, there "was no body of people who could help you learn these things."

From June 30 to July 4, 1950, with John Salathe,  he completed the first ascent of the Steck-Salathé Route up the 1,600-foot (490 m) north face of Sentinel Rock in Yosemite Valley.  

Along with Steve Roper, he was the long-time editor of the mountaineering journal Ascent, which was originally published by the Sierra Club and later by the American Alpine Club. Steck and Roper also wrote the book Fifty Classic Climbs of North America., first published in 1979.

Steck died on February 23, 2023, at the age of 96