North face
Dwight and Dominic hiking up to the base of the cliffs on the steep north face of "The Little Altar".
A suspenseful, dirty 4th class scramble to a summit we weren't sure we could reach
Dwight and Dominic hiking up to the base of the cliffs on the steep north face of "The Little Altar".
Dominic checking out one possible weakness in the lower cliff band. This line ends up looking easy 5th class but ridiculously loose so we continue searching for something better. We found a 3rd class route further west.
View toward Bishopric from the summit of "The Little Altar". Bishopric is the cone shaped peak just left of center. It looks difficult from here but it reportedly goes at easy 5th class. Very long approach though.
The Sundial (foreground) and The West Temple (background) are directly southeast of "The Little Altar".
CP on the summit. Dominic is arriving.
Matthew topping out with Cougar Mountain in the background.
Dominic and Matthew beginning the descent; loose but easy scrambling.
Exposed ledges on the north side of the west ridge allowed us to bypass several insurmountable obstacles. Several times I was certain we'd reached a dead end only to discover that a dirty ledge allowed passage along the side of the ridge.
Dominic descending the upper part of the west ridge.
Steep, exposed traverse along ledges on the north side of the west ridge. CP is sitting on a rock outcropping high on the far side.
Matthew and Dominic negotiating a tricky, loose and exposed downclimb on the north side of the ridge.
Matthew employing the bush belay while Dominic points out.... something.
CP standing above the notch we used to pass from the north face to the west ridge.
View from the unnamed wash we used to access "The Little Alter" from the Guacamole Trailhead. Petrified wood and colorful rocks make it an enjoyable, scenic jaunt.
UN 6,310, dubbed "The Little Altar" by CP. Our ascent route was on the face and ridge facing the viewer.