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Altar Boy Tower Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Altar Boy Tower

Spare the Rod... T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c C2

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Elevation:	4,428 ft	1,350 m
GPS:	37.15832, -111.7829 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,962 total · 22/month
Shared By:	Trevor Bowman on Oct 4, 2017
Admins:	Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

A free-standing tower in the back of a cirque which kind of resembles a shark fin rising out of the sand. The east and west faces are vertical to slightly overhanging, and on the north (tallest) end, the tower is pierced through with a splitter wide crack. The rock is soft, with a healthy amount of surface mud on the lower flanks, but gets progressively more solid and clean with height. The cap rock is composed of a different layer of denser sandstone.

Getting There

Follow the approach directions to the Organ Pipes Tower. About 200 yards or so before (south of) the Organ Pipes are reached on the well-beaten cow trail, leave the trail, cut across the wash, and head northwest, following faint trails and eventually linking up with a faint two-track road. Head for the lowest notch in the ridgeline, which turns quickly into a badland scene of undercut benches and mud cliffs. There is a scramble on the north side of this notch, leading you down into the next valley west. The Altar Boy is in a cirque a couple hundred yards west of this down-climb.

This sounds complicated, and is if reading it without context. Study Google Earth prior to your visit, and note the tower location marked below. With an overview understanding of the topography here, it shouldn't be that confusing once you're out there.

Hiking time is about 1 hr. from the car if you made it to the turnaround at the end of the K7065 access road.