does anyone know the climbing history of the window rock/ cathedral rock area in the catalina mts.? i went up there this weekend and saw 2 old pitons in the rock below the window. (along with a horseshoe a tin can and someone's banana peel) so i know someone climbed up there at some point in time. i was wondering if anyone has climbed up there or knows of any of the history of climbing in the area.

http://www.climbaz.com/Backcountry/page_html/page52.html has info on the Cathedral Rock area. If anyone reading this knows someone in the SAHC they could probably scrounge up some good history on both rocks.

BKy and I did a climb around 1990, "Ventanarama," starting on the Window's NW ridge, (the first part you get to when hiking up from Ventana,) and traversing the top of the formation. This involved several of what Bob called "uberfalls," where we had to make exciting steps across airy chasms. The first of the three pitches was the crux at 5.8ish. We did a rap, (I THINK it was half-rope,) off the back near the "Window". No fixed gear, except maybe a sling.

We did see some pitons on the front (Tucson-side) but have no info on that. Never seen a horseshoe used for pro but I think I'll have to give it a try now,(probably hammerless if you get a good placement...right??) Don't know nothing about the tin can or banana.

thanks scorptale,
cool to hear from someone who climbed on top of the window!
i read the entry in bob kerry's guide, but "...an incredible amount of good granite in this area which has not been touched for obvious reasons." sounds a bit fishy to me. is it just too long of an approach? it seems like that hasn't stopped people from developing other areas on the mountain. maybe i've read too many issues of alpinist, but i thought people did this kind of climbing all the time. i'd be willing to bet there are pitons all over that rock, put there by people wearing boots! i guess there is only one way to find out though.

J-ham; "for obvious reasons" might indeed suggest "too far from pavement to be convenient". It seems too easy at times to forgo those distant beckoning faces for the short approach lines that we are so generously endowed with around here. And yes, reading Alpinist tends to inspire the notion that good things are well worth walking a long, long way to achieve. I have that problem too. Want to go for a walk?