Castle Peak Ridge & Sleeping Indian:
The Peakbagger Phenomenon

Pics by Harlan W S & Nick N
Feb 23, 2003

I re-edited this page on Sept 25, 2021. When Nick and I went over "Sleeping Indian" in 2003, the peak had no name, no cairn, no sign of previous visitation, and no great interest to us. The most beautiful and challenging part of the ridge starts north of "Sleeping Indian." The peak was named in a guidebook years later, and entered into peakbagger. After the entry in peakbagger, almost every documented visit was by the easiest way possible, from the south.

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We took the blue
route Feb. 23, and
came back with Pierre
on Mar 03 for the red
route (also on this
web site).
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zoom out for context
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Ah, back when I
had more and
darker hair. Pic
by Nick.
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Valley to guzzlers.
Pic by Nick.
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View ~E from
S shoulder of
Sleeping Indian.
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View ~ESE
from top of
Sleeping Indian.
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And now we head
N on the ridge
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View into canyons
were dramatic; this
and next 3 by Nick.
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The peaklets N along the
ridge, most with less
than 250' prominence,
were far ruggeder
and more challenging
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It was not simple to
find a way off this peak.
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Descent of this
peaklet was hairy
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Finally, true Castle
Peak to N.
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Welded tuff on descent.
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On the way back to
Jeep.
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