Cardinal Peak as viewed from
Saska Peak to the west on July 14, 2001. On the left in the distance is Cloudcomb Peak (8085 ft). On the right in the distance is Pyramid Mountain (8245 ft). The standard route up Cardinal goes up that talus draw to the saddle between north and main summits then turns right to ascend steep slabs and cuts to the crest just east of the summit. From there, a scramble along the back (south) side of that crest gets one to the top.