Cathedral Peak

Yes, it's really not bad, and can also be bypassed below to the left, with a steeper scramble up on the left. The previous photo doesn't show the slope well, but this one from below shows the footholds better, with almost a narrow ledge in places. (Photo courtesy of Elinda)

Great Set of Photos, thanks Tony and Elinda. The best photos of this often climbed peak I've seen so far, even better than the one's at the Hotel.

PS. I usually get so excited on scrambles such as this that I forget to take shots (or as in two cases, loose the camera...once descending Scaly peak and once ascending Ships Prow South )

Hello all and thanks for a great site. Been doing plenty of armchair hiking since discovering it
I am very recent 'Berg addict and want to get a few friends in on the habit before they become waylaid by diapers and schoolfees. My plan is something epic, without too much of a fuss or multiple days. I would like to take them up to the plateau before the summit of Cathedral Peak for an overnight. Then tackle the summit for sunrise before heading back down. I am thinking somewhere in the last two weeks of May.

What is the weather like that time of year? I'm hoping for clear skies and leftover green from the rainy season?
If we do get caught in rain trouble, is there somewhere to take shelter, as I understand its pretty exposed on the way up there?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Welcome to VE

Really planning in advance on this one, aren't you

May usually has great weather. Not the prettiest time though, its often hazy and everything is either brown or black - depending on where they have burned. The grass is occasionally still green in places.

As for rain - the rock may be a bit less than fun when wet. There are bolts that you can run a rope through - you can always abseil off a munter hitch on a locking biner off either end of the rope if you feel the rock is too slippery to down climb, but unless there is a thunderstorm (not that common in May, although not impossible) all you need is a raincoat and some dry clothes in the car. But yes - not the best spot for a thunderstorm. That was the reason that I didn't get up in March this year (well, part of it anyway).

I was standing on top of Sterkhorn earlier this year when a thunderstorm was threatening nearby - didn't amount to anything, but not the nicest experience I have had in the Berg.

@Moderators: Maybe this should be moved to the Cathedral Peak thread?

I climbed Cathedral about a month ago, great fun. We summited ahead of the Cathedral peak hotel guide who was taking some foreign tourists up. We managed easily without ropes. The tourists ranged in age from 9 to 80 years old, so that will put the peak into perspective for you.

There is what looks like a flat section to the east of the start of the summit climb, look back in this thread for photos. Just be aware there is no water close to were you want to camp.

Anyone done the North East Ridge route on Cathedral Peak? Its the one that goes up the ridge in Herman's photo from earlier in this thread:

Hermann wrote:

Considering this quote from the RD, I'm sure someone on the site must have done it?

Note: After I published this RD in the 1996 Journal, every man and his dog laid prior claim to the route.

I'm hoping to finally conquer Cathedral Peak on Saturday, by the standard route of course. But it could be fun to head up this arete some time in the future - and it's stated as being on good rock, so I should be able to lead it.

ghaznavid wrote: Anyone done the North East Ridge route on Cathedral Peak? Its the one that goes up the ridge in Herman's photo from earlier in this thread:


I'm hoping to finally conquer Cathedral Peak on Saturday, by the standard route of course. But it could be fun to head up this arete some time in the future - and it's stated as being on good rock, so I should be able to lead it.

I've not been up the ridge route before Ghaz - but it looks quite appealing. Ridge routes are always nice - good views and route finding is not as difficult as on a face.

Interesting turn of phrase: "to finally conquer Cathedral Peak". I know what you mean of course. But do you really get a sense of conquering something? For me, its a matter of being on the highest point for a few minutes before turning to negotiate the descent - the part I'm often most cautious about. There is no sense of conquering for me.

mnt_tiska wrote: Interesting turn of phrase: "to finally conquer Cathedral Peak". I know what you mean of course. But do you really get a sense of conquering something? For me, its a matter of being on the highest point for a few minutes before turning to negotiate the descent - the part I'm often most cautious about. There is no sense of conquering for me.

Perhaps that's the wargamer in me thinking of the achievement of the primary goal in a mission.

Understand my statement in the context of this Churchill quote though: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

I stole the WW2 wargaming results system as a means to rate hike success:
- Major victory: achieved all goals and no major incidents occurred
- Minor victory: achieved some goals and no major incidents occurred
- Draw: didn't achieve much, but no major incidents occurred
- Minor loss: didn't really achieve anything and wasn't particularly enjoyable
- Major loss: any form of serious injury or worse occurred during the course of the hike

ghaznavid wrote: I'm hoping to finally conquer Cathedral Peak on Saturday, by the standard route of course. But it could be fun to head up this arete some time in the future - and it's stated as being on good rock, so I should be able to lead it.

Any insight you can provide on the state of BGully would be much appreciated. We're planning to end our Northern Traverse via Bell Traverse and I'm anxious about getting as far as Cathedral Peak and finding it's impassable.