Mt. Temple Rock Climbing

Temple's enduring charms have ensured the peak would play a pivotal role in every significant era of North American mountaineering. Temple earned an early spot in the local annals as the first 11K'-er to be climbed in the range. The American's 1894 ascent of the Southwest Ridge was also notable in that it was completed without guides, which was rare at the time. This route has enjoyed unparalleled popularity to this day.

In 1931, as the Golden-Age of American Mountaineering was picking up steam, Temple was again a leading indicator of things to come. After establishing the Black Dike route on Wyoming's famed Mount Moran, the strong Guide/Client team of Hans Wittich & Otto Stegmaier headed North, ultimately pioneering the elegant East Ridge, among the proudest ascents in the range at the time. Although initially ignored, this classic route was ultimately immortalized in Steck & Roper's "Fifty Classic Climbs of North America" improving its profile considerably.

Temple's true significance to the region was ultimately realized in the mid-1960's. For years North American climbers had sought a climb to match the legendary North Face of the Eiger. Temple's North Face was a clear candidate, and by the early 1960's talents and experience in the Western Hemisphere were finally up to the task. Initial probing of the face began in 1962 with no success. After several attempts by many of the era's best climbers, ex-pat Brit Brian Greenwood and Charlie Locke forged their line to the top of the wall. Although in retrospect the route is perhaps not quite as mythical or challenging as the iconic Nordwand, it was an impressive step forward that paved the way for an unparalleled decade of daring ascents on north walls throughout the range. Since this ascent many of the continent's best alpinists have left their mark on this great face.