The Fortress, South-Southwest Face. Mike Pennings and I explored an area down around Mineral Bottom and climbed a free route on a tower that was narrowly separated from the rim. We did not know any history of this tower and found no evidence on top for a descent. An initial pitch starting with fist cracks to off-width was climbed up a left-facing corner. The 60-meter pitch ended after a beautiful hand crack section. Here, the route splits where we first went left but reversed some ground and eventually went right (A0), which led up a moderate chimney and a final, moderate third pitch with great exposure. (III 5.11 A0).

Doug Hall