Looking up at the East Ridge...

Looking up at the East Ridge of Monument Peak on August 24, 2001. The higher up you go, the firmer the rock. The right side of the ridge drops off very sharply to the cirque once occupied by a northeast glacier. On my ascent, I generally stayed just left of the ridge arete, which became slabby in spots. The upper part of the ridge turns slightly left beside a gully marking the apex of a northeast-facing couloir. Some small gendarme scrambling there. At the top of the East Ridge, it is then necessary to contour around to the true summit on the west end of the peak.