Howser Towers - East Faces

While less spectacular than their west faces, the east faces of the Howser Towers offer some interesting mixed and moderate alpine rock, as well as descent lines for most of the monster routes on the other side. Climate change is taking its toll, though, as the bergshrunds are becoming increasingly impassable, especially as seen here in early fall!

Download: Medium resolution, personal use only

Route List

1: East Face/Southeast Ridge of South Tower, 5.9+ AI3, L. Anderson, H. Beckey, L. Boyer, T. Campbell, 08/1941
2: It is what it is, M5 WI4 R, T. Takeshi, T. Yamada, 10/2015
3: Ethereal, M6 WI4 R, T. McAllistar, J. Olson, 10/2014
4: Thompson-Turk, 5.10 R, G. Thompson, J. Turk, 08/1990
5: Perma-Grin, M5 WI4 R, S. Isaac, S. Semple, B. Webster, 10/2002
6: Northeast Face of South Tower, 5.7 A2, F. Beckey, Y. Chouinard, 08/1961
7: The Big Hose, M5 WI4 5.9, J. Krakauer, 06/1978
8: Rappel lines
9: South Ridge of Central Tower, 5.11-, B. Adams, J. Cameron, D. Goeddel, 08/1972/T. Richardson, J. Walsh, 2011
10: East Face of Central Tower, 5.7+, A. Spero, A. Waterman, 08/1974
11: North Ridge of Central Tower, 5.6, G. Austin, D. Bernays, J. McCarthy, J. Rupley, 08/1955
12: South Ridge of North Tower, 5.6, C. Kain, H. Frind, A. MacCarthy, B. MacCarthy, J. Vincent, 08/1916
13: East Face/North Ridge of North Tower, 5.4, C. Cranmer, S. Hendricks, P. Olton, P. Prescot, 07/1938
14: East Ridge of Preshaw Pillar, 5.9, N. Preshaw, R. Preshaw, 07/1990
15: East Ridge/North Ridge of North Tower, 5.4, F. Ayres, E. Little, D. Woods, J. Oberlin, 07/1946
16: Northeast Face of North Tower, 5.6 WI3, R. Debeyer, K. Sellers, 09/1995
17: Integral North Ridge of North Tower, 5.8+, M. Finlay, E. Gale, R. Gibson, T. Johnston, A. Styles, D. Wessel, 07/1946

Sources

• “The Bugaboos, The Climbers Guide,” Chris Atkinson, Marc Piché, High Col Press, 2022

• “Bugaboo Rock, A Climbing Guide,” 2nd ed., Randall Green, Joe Bensen, The Mountaineers Books, 2003

• “The Bugaboos, An Alpine History,” J.F. Garden, Footprint Publishing, 1987

• Mountain Project

Updates

Jan 27, 2023: First version published.

May 15, 2024: Graphic design update

Feb 18, 2026: Graphic design and caption update, including color change.