 The day started windy and with snow flurries. We revisited Dove Benchmark, then traversed east to look at the scary fin (#1 peak), then climbed #2 (called "South Dove" by Branch Whitney). |
 Skies were leaden gray and cold when we started. We will 1st go to Dove Benchmark, then traverse east of #2 to Scary Fin (#1), then climb South Dove (#2) from the W and N. |
 I start off on the Dove crux. The hardest task is to get onto the brown-pink tuff; there is an overhang. It is crucial to find a good place to put your left foot. |
 Then one uses a combination of knobs from conglomerate clasts, and the crack, as holds to reach a shelf 20' above the deck. Note face on my left, seen from above in the photo below. |
 I dropped a handline from the current sling; unfortunately, there seems to be no anchor that falls directly over the crack. Here Kevin uses the handline as minor protection. |
 |
 Richard came more directly up the "left face." |
 |
 View SW from Dove BM. The route up "South Dove" (#2) is shown in blue. Scary Fin (#1) is behind #2. |
 View NE of Dove BM, to North Castle Butte. |
 Now I'm down-climbing, using the handline. |
 Next Kevin down-climbs more directly. (Photo by Richard) |
 My view of Kevin. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 This view of Richard down-climbing gives a good idea of the crux. |
 Now we head E and S. |
 Hart Peak in distance. |
 We traverse the E side of #2, with Scary Fin (#1) at L. |
 |
 SW edge of Scary Fin. |
 |
 Now Richard is on the crux of #2. He went directly up the gully; I went to the R and around the corner. |
 Near top of #2; Dove BM is at L, North Castle Butte is behind. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Scary Fin from #2. |
 |
 |
 |
 I came down the same way I went up; but Kevin and Richard hand-lined down the class 4 creepy gully. My way was pretty creepy too-- very bad exposure. |
 |
 |
 #2 at L, #1 at R. |
 |