Ethereal Tower

The 1986 national topo map indicates a point called the Ethereal Tower midway along the amphitheatre summit, which does not appear on the Slingsby map. I am not sure that I have come across the name in any of the literature, Google reveals 3 hits, none of which are really useful. Does anybody know of this spot, if it has a different name now, or any stories worth mentioning ?

Hi. I'm pretty sure Intrepid is right - it's the only free-stander of any significance off the escarpment but at the same height with a good bit of grass on the top. Located very soon after the Bilanjil walking South. Many years ago some goon had obviously climbed it, and put a "NO CAMPING" sign on it. I appreciated the humour.

If you read the Amphitheatre Wall climbing route descriptions, a feature on the Amphitheatre Wall known as the Castle is fairly prominent in the centre of the wall when viewed from Tendele. The Castle is supported by two buttresses which result in a grass 'W' on the wall. The Ethereal Tower is on the left-hand (South) extreme of the grass 'W' and is at the head of the exit gully for both Liebenberg's Route and the Park Ross variation.

I have attached two pics of (what I think we agree is) the Ethereal Tower. The right-facing tortoise-looking profile is the Castle. (There is a stunning little cave called Tribe Cave directly between the two.)The third pic (taken from the ridge on the escarpment above the Tugela MCSA hut) shows the Castle quite clearly (attached to the escarpment) in front of the Eastern Buttress, with Ethereal Tower detatched from the escarpment just to the right of the Tooth.

What do you think? Definitely the Ethereal Tower? I love the name... RobD

Hi Rob, thanks for the comprehensive reply and photos - consider me elucidated on the topic ! You have my vote that the tower you refer to is the one. As you say, what a perfect name for a 'berg peak, just a pity they gave it to one of the less obvious peaks which may be the reason it has fallen into disuse.

That looks awesome, looks like some Gondorian tower from Lord of the Rings!

Another view of the “possible” Ethereal Tower.

Is this perhaps it (first photo). If I look at the Map posted by the OP its position looks more of less correct.

Seems as though I took some not-so-good photos on this trip as I can't find a nice photo that shows a good perspective of the tower in question. Second photo perhaps shows the position on the amphi wall the best.

Is this the same one or are we talking about another? There are actually many many pinnacles off the amphi wall, second photo shows a few of them in the distance as well (no.....not the tooth )

Seems as though Sterkhorn and I posted simultaneously.(uhmm, he posted last night...my bad, however I did not see it).

Also seems we think of the same pinnacle.

@RRankin Going on the description by RobD earlier in this post, the picture I have posted is what is showing at centre right on your second picture, with the castle to its left. All indications are that it is in that position, beyond the Bilanjil stream (which is in lower right foreground in your picture). I think you have one of the pinnacles just below the Window Crevice ridge.