The Rook

The Rook is south of the Bishop and slightly west of the Shoshoni-Apache ridge. It can be seen from the Isabelle Glacier cirque and from many points along the Kasparov Traverse and is justifyably the focus of attention. The rook is tall, round, and steep from all sides. The capstone creates overhangs on several aspects. The whole tower seems to lean out to the west over the expanse of air above Lone Eagle Cirque. The whole project looks improbable from every angle.

From a position south of the Rook, traverse north along a narrow ledge, staying on the east side of the main ridge. This ledge leads to a comfortable belay just below a notch between the Rook and a much smaller finger of rock that might as well be called the Rook's Pawn.

From the belay, traverse south to a thick, detached flake and traverse right to get on top of the flake, which forms a ledge. Follow a prominent hand crack as it curves up and left, pull throught the roof on the left near a piton, traverse above the roof to the right and reach the summit and a two-piton anchor. These pitons were rusty but in reasonably good shape in August 2005.

Bill Wright climbed all the moves free with some resting on pieces, and he estimates the route would go free at 5.10+ or 5.11-.

Stoppers and medium-size cams