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Favorite Technical Rock Summit?

Original Post
MattH · · CO mostly · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 1,396

Daydreaming about an upcoming trip got me thinking: what's your vote for the best summit of a route you've climbed? What makes it so great in your opinion?

I figure Katahdin is best on the East Coast but probably doesn't figure in at all to America's best once you consider the numerous big walls in the Rockies, the desert towers, etc (of which I have scant experience).

I figure that a great summit should have:

  • Beautiful scenery
  • Great climbing to the summit
  • Significant prominence and exposure
  • A feeling of isolation

But that's all obviously in the eye of the beholder.

What's your pick?

Be Young · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2019 · Points: 0

I'm partial to the Cascades, so I'm going to vote for Dragontail Peak in the Enchantments. Specifically via Backbone Ridge, because of the "Fin" feature at the top. The proximity to Mt Stuart and the other peaks in the area is really dramatic, plus the lake and temperate rainforest on the approach made for one of the most aesthetically pleasing alpine experiences of my life. Highly recommend, but definitely bring the #6!

P B · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2019 · Points: 62

I’m a sucker for the Northeast colors in the fall, so any route at the Gunks stands out to me. A lot of the classics finish on some pretty sweet exposed ledges with 180 panoramas of the fall.

Andrew Gram · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,725

Echo Tower in the Fisher Towers is tops for me.  Incredible knife edge ridge with huge drops down either side.  The exposure is pretty mind bending.  Not my picture but this captures it pretty well.

Anonymous User · · on the road · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 182

Anything in the cirque of the towers. So so isolated

Greg Davis · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 10

Cathedral peak has to be up there

Kevin Worrall · · La Jolla, Ca · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 264

Higher Cathedral Spire is an all around classic

Will G · · San Francisco · Joined Mar 2020 · Points: 35

Seconding Cathedral Peak for the prominence, the views, the great rock, and the incredible summit, though it doesn’t feel as isolated because of the peak’s popularity.

A more isolated and less traveled (though still popular) High Sierra summit I like is The Incredible Hulk. Can’t beat the climbing and the exposure, it’s definitely isolated, but the views aren’t as great. Still the best rock I’ve been on in the Sierra in terms of its bullet nature and the incredible (heh) climbing.

Jason EL · · Almostsomewhere, AL · Joined Jan 2021 · Points: 0

Summit of Mt Proboscis was pretty cool.

splitclimber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 29

The Obelisk in Kings Canyon checks all the boxes.

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/107739679/the-obelisk

Jake907 · · Anchorage Alaska · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 0

Liberty Bell WA.  Glaciated peaks one way high desert the other, good climbing.

Ignatius Pi · · Europe · Joined Jun 2020 · Points: 13

Asgard is quite impressive and feels pretty much 'out there' - albeit less so, I would imagine, than the East Coast stuff.

TBlom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2004 · Points: 360

Top of tower one, redgarden wall (yellow spur)

Chad Namolik · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 2,905

Castle Rock Spire, Sequoia 

Cerro Trinidad, Cochamo 

Higher Cathedral Spire, Yosemite 

Torre Principal, Frey

Black Velvet Peak, Red Rock

Hamilton Dome, Sequoia 

Black Kaweah, Sequoia 

SICgrips · · Charlottesville · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 156

South Peak, Seneca Rocks... though it doesn't meet the isolation stipulation.

Gerald Adams · · Sacramento · Joined May 2019 · Points: 0

Add the summit block on Starlight Peak to the list .

The Weavers · · High Falls NY · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 10

Wallface Adirondacks NY

Kristian Solem · · Monrovia, CA · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 1,075

Castle Rock Spire, Sierra west side. 

The easiest free route is action packed 5.11. And it's a true summit, not the top of a wall...

Alex Ghiggeri · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 115

Tip of the lost arrow spire. Once you top out the fun is just beginning. Tyrol back to tthe rim is epic

Nathan Forbes · · Bend, OR · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 0

Sometimes it is a bit of a congo line, but if you catch it on the right day, the Petit Grepon in RMNP is one of my all-time favorites.  

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 470

Whichever one I am on  ;) 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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