Castle Rocks, North Buttress of “Amphitheatre Dome.” A trip to the Castle Rocks in the western Sequoia area rewarded us when we found and climbed a fine face on the major peak in this compact group of granite summits, a mile south of better known Castle Rock Spire. Roger Briggs, Jim Jones, Dave Leen, and I scouted the west face of the main peak, which probably is “South Guard,” climbed many years ago by Ax Nelson. Its general shape an ice-carved east cirque suggested the name “Amphitheatre Dome.” Not liking the exfoliations that loosely clung to the face, we scouted the north end, a steep profile with sounder rock. On our second morning we returned to the climb and completed it about noon. There was some fine free climbing on the first two pitches, then a section of overhanging aid that required both pitons and nuts, and finally easier climbing after a bad area. We made the descent on the southeast, along the route of the original two ascents. NCCS II, F8, A3.

Fred Beckey