In 1979, along with John Roskelley, Kim Schmitz, and Bill Forrest, he made the first ascent of East Face, Uli Biaho, Pakistan.

[1][citation needed] Astroman held title as the hardest long free route in Yosemite Valley for a year.

Kauk went on to put up the hardest routes in Yosemite, such as the rap-bolted Crossroads (5.13a) in 1990 and Magic Line (5.14c) which he climbed in 1997 on pre-placed gear.

In 1989 he climbed a five pitch route called Backbone (5.13a) at Smith Rock for NBC Sportsworld,[5] and he repeated his toughest first ascents for Eric Perlman's Masters of Stone videos.

In 2000 Kauk produced Yosemite: Ascending Rhythms, a climbing video highlighting the scenic splendor of his favorite crag.