This route climbs up (or in my case down) the East face of the rook, at it's east-most point, where the rooks is closest to the trail. A horizontal break with a quartzite band is at foot level for the 5.8- (?) crux, which is like the rest of the climb, unprotected.

East Face

North Arete (unknown proper name)

While the bottom half of this climb is non-descript and uninteresting, the top is very cool. In the transition between, I was eating raspberries growing from a plant on the wall to the right... reaching for them added a crux.   Climb up the very north end of the East Face and pass a bulge with what appears to be an undercling (but is actually rotten rock) and up better stone near the arete. Continue to the arete and to the inside, between the spire and the wall behind it on good square holds. Reach the knife-blade arete, now to your left and climb runout to the summit. This final bit was worn as if it had seen some prior traffic, yet a few folks walking by with the Piana book could not identify it.  Can you help?   Descend by simul-rap.

This peak has at least 2 possible routes on it, but I don't know any history of them. The Rook lies just uphill of the billboard/kiosk of the entry to the Cathedral Spires trail, looming perhaps 70 feet overhead. The routes on it got afternoon shade.   Belay from a cord over the large rounded summit and descend via a simul-rap.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in The Rook