Cathedral Wall  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  19,771. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Julian Smith on Nov 30, 1999 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 61° | 39° 63° | 43° 72° | 43° 72° | 43° 72° | 48°

The Cathedral Wall (with the tops of some of the C...

Description 

Located in Loch Vale, Cathedral Wall towers over its western end. You can't miss it on the walk into Sky Pond and the Cathedral Spires. More than likely, the sun is rising as you approach, turning the whole wall into a glorious sheet of orange. There are perhaps a dozen routes that climb either the main or second buttress. They all top out in the same vicinity, with the descent being down the backside to the Andrews Glacier trail. This descent is far more complicated than is let on to in Rossiter's guide. Watch out for being cliffed out. There were few cairns in the summer of 2001. Carefully find a gully to downclimb, more or less directly below, but slightly left of where the route tops out. You can't see it until you are right on top of it. Many of the routes are described as serious, but good moderate climbing is to be had as well. Definately worth adding an ascent of this wall to your repertoire.

Getting There 

From the Glacier Gorge parking area, follow the trail to Sky Pond. Access to wall is gained by traversing slopes of talus, just after the Andrews Glacier trail junction, but before you climb up to the waterfall on the Sky Pond trail.

Link to Cathedral Wall Ice 

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The Classics

Featured Route For Cathedral Wall

Dalke Route 5.9 R  CO : Alpine Rock : ... : Cathedral Wall

Route-finding is vague, protection dicey in places (in fact nearly everywhere) but this is a great line up a proud buttress; actually one of the tallest and best-looking buttresses in the whole RMNP. In addition, this route has a fairly short approach, (you can watch all the bumblies heading up for the Petit Grepon) and best of all a solid southern exposure; you may end up lost and frightened and unable to retreat, but at least you'll be nice and warm.P1. First pitch is obv...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

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BETA PHOTO: Cathedral Wall, 2nd & 3rd buttresses.	BETA PHOTO: Cathedral Wall, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd buttresses.	Cathedral Wall from Loch Vale in early morning. Zo...
Cathdral Wall from Sky Pond. Cathedral Wall is at ...