Mystery Towers, Various Ascents. In March, in the remote Mystery Towers just east of Fisher Towers, Keith Reynolds and Alan Stevenson climbed The Fortress (5.8 A3, five pitches) on Kitty Litter Wall. The route ascends the south-facing buttress adjacent to The Citadel, with minimal nailing. Reynolds comments: “The fifth pitch is possibly the worst pitch in the Mystery Towers—loose and crumbling 5.8+ Moenkopi mud cracks.” The Reynolds/Stevenson team also made a free ascent of the Pink Pussycat (5.10), located up the left drainage beyond The Aliens. It was first climbed nearly 30 years ago by Bill Forrest and Don Briggs and rated 5.9 A3. Pillar of Hercules (V A3+ 5.9, 1,000+') was climbed by Duane Raleigh and Tony Wilson in four days with 35 bolts. The route is located between Hydra and Doric Column.

Eric BjØrnstadt