Tower Mountain, Southwest Rib, 1989. From afar, this route appears both south-facing and defined as a ridge. Close inspection revealed it to be a series of south west-trending ribs blending into one. Joe Cataloni and I discovered this on July 21, 1989 after a leisurely Pacific Crest Trail approach. The route, the central rib of a possible four, was gained via the sparsely vegetated south shoulder. Climbing was characteristic of the Cascades where a direct line was unveiled to the summit.

Gordy Skoog