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Elevation: 5,554 ft 1,693 m
GPS: 37.71836, -119.64312
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Shared By: Justin Johnsen on Jun 20, 2018 · Updates
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This huge 1600 foot high crag is often forgotten in the shadow of its even larger brothers: Middle and Higher Cathedral. Nevertheless, it contains several worthwhile routes, and in fact if this crag were in Florida there would be books written about it. Beggar's Buttress is Hans Florine's favorite climb (see the book "Fifty Favorite Climbs" by Mark Kroese). At a slightly easier grade, the East Buttress is worth doing. Overhang Bypass is an amazing 5.7 route with lots of history but a rather involved approach.

A dark, forbidding slot "the Gunsight" separates Lower Cathedral and Middle Cathedral. This serves as a descent route from the summit, involving a few rappels normally.

47 Total Climbs

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Location: 7. Lower Cathedral Area Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Lower Cathedral Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 107
● Something Good
Trad
N Buttress Base Routes
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 87
● End of The Line
Trad
N Buttress Base Routes
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 86
● Unnamed but Beautiful
Trad
N Buttress Base Routes
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 81
● 76 Degrees in the Shade
Trad, Sport
N Buttress Base Routes
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 43
● Giblit
Sport
Mecca
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 33
● Mecca Lite
Sport
Mecca
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 44
● East Buttress
Trad 12 pitches
Gunsight
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 36
● Sub-Mission
Trad
N Buttress Base Routes
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 123
● Mac Daddy
Sport
N Buttress Base Routes
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 47
● Beggar's Buttress
Trad 9 pitches
Mecca
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
● Overhang Overpass
Trad
Lower Cathedral West
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 19
● King and I
Sport
Mecca
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 36
● King for a Day
Sport
Mecca
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 13
● Time Bandits
Trad
N Buttress Base Routes
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 10
● Empire
Sport
Mecca
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Something Good N Buttress Base Routes
 107
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● End of The Line N Buttress Base Routes
 87
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
● Unnamed but Beautiful N Buttress Base Routes
 86
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
● 76 Degrees in the Shade N Buttress Base Routes
 81
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Sport
● Giblit Mecca
 43
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Mecca Lite Mecca
 33
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● East Buttress Gunsight
 44
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 12 pitches
● Sub-Mission N Buttress Base Routes
 36
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Mac Daddy N Buttress Base Routes
 123
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Beggar's Buttress Mecca
 47
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad 9 pitches
● Overhang Overpass Lower Cathedral West
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● King and I Mecca
 19
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● King for a Day Mecca
 36
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Time Bandits N Buttress Base Routes
 13
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad
● Empire Mecca
 10
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Lower Cathedral Area »

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Photos

Camilla + ?? on the harder parts, Oct 8th, 2022. Taken from Gunsight w/ El Cap in the background.
Camilla + ?? on the harder parts, Oct 8th, 2022…
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