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Anyone know of established routes on the Castle Gate Tower in Price Canyon?

Original Post
tsaint · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 15

Aside from the information found at this link carbon-utgenweb.com/white.html does anyone know if this formation (The Castle Gate Tower) has any established routes on it?

Every time I drive from SLC to Moab the thought crosses my mind and after searching high and low on the interweb to find any info, the link above is all I've come up with.

Rock quality looks like it could be suspect but aside from that it seems like it would be pretty great.

If anyone has any additional info or stories of ascents, please post!

Rebekah Larsen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2017 · Points: 7

Did you ever find anything out? I know it's years later, but I drove past for the first time yesterday and wondered the same thing.

oldfattradguuy kk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 172

There is a route on it I believe climbed by some dude named Conrad 

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 4,588

Pretty sure James Garrett has a route on it.  Have to find it, but my memory says chossy 5.9. ?

Hank Caylor · · Livin' in the Junk! · Joined Dec 2003 · Points: 643

Haha I drive by that thing to see my in-laws in Logan. How tall you think that cliff is, looks like a BASE jump maybe.

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, UT · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 22,822

My try one of the Utah forums...

I think Ben has done it.

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, UT · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 22,822

There is/was a flagpole on Balanced Rock out of Helper.

https://www.mountainproject.com/route/112122060/balanced-rock

Balanced Rock history

"Only a few of Helper's oldest residents remember the fearless kids or young heros of the early Balanced Rock expeditions: Gordon Richardson, Rudy Felice, Arthur Sandviken, Ira Jackson, Bob Reddington, Frank Richardson, Chester Richardson, Dayton Kelly, Albert Marshall and William Marshall. This "Balanced Rock" gang, or some portion of it, scaled Balanced Rock some 252 times in the summer of 1929 and 1930."

"Frank D. Richardson, son of Frank Richardson, dreamed that someday he could stand where is father stood above Helper. After making several rock climbs elsewhere, he soon realized that he would need expert help to safely complete the task and contacted Merrill Bitter of REI in Salt Lake, to assist. Together they planned a 60th Anniversary Climb on Friday, May 12, 1989.

The Wednesday before the climb, Frank invited Shirley Haycock, daughter of Gordon Richardson, to join them. She too had dreamed of climbing all the way to the top, for she had made several trips to its base, but never to the top. And with only twenty-four hours notice she was there to meet the group at the trail head, traveling all the way from Freemont, California.

The group consisted of Frank Donald Richardson, his son Brad Richardson, Shirley Haycock, Merrill Bitter and Amy Irvine. Both Merrill Bitter and Amy Irvine are experts in the field, competing internationally. Both worked for REI of Salt Lake.

The ascent started unaided at 6:30 a.m. at the beginning of a treacherous trail that snaked its was up the north side of Steamboat Mountain to the bottom of the rock. The weather was partly clouded with intermittent wind and cold, thus making everyone wonder if the storm that was making in the west would hit before it was done.

Merrill made the ascent up the rock face first, placing pinions and anchors for safety. Taking his time he carefully climbed to the top. Frank Jr. came next, saying "I think I can, I think I can, I know I can," while listening to the shouted encouragement from his fellow climbers. His arms stiffened and his legs became quivering jelly before he reached the top and viewed the inscriptions left by the Balanced Rock Gang across the gap on the top of Steamboat Mountain.

Shirley Haycock at the age of 55 came next. She was the only one without special climbing shoes and this caused some minor problems for her. It took longer to climb up the face for her tennis shoes did not grip in the same way as climbing shoes did. Sometimes she struggled and got stuck, but she "conquered the rock an inch at a time," said Frank. As she was pulling herself over the lip of the rock she said, "If I was smart, I would act my age." But no matter, she plans to return for the 75th Anniversary Climb next year. She was the first woman to set foot on the summit of Balanced Rock.

Amy quickly climbed last, pausing only for a short time to glance at the original hemp rope coiled and sitting on the ledge of the pedestal that was used in the first climb up the rock.

After ascending, all four lingered to admire the view and to unfurl a Richardson banner for a short time. Finally they repelled down the rock to the saddle, where Franks son Brad, age 16, joined them and then repelled with them down the 150 foot north wall of Steamboat Mountain. Brad only went as far as the base of the rock for his job was to anchor the safety rope at the base as the others climbed."

Pretty neat.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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