 The 10.5 Echo Peaks, as viewed from the south. (Photo/annotations by Mark Thomas.) | Summits 3-12.5
Echo Peaks
There are 9 summits in this massif that rises in the Cathedral Range of Yosemite National Park, although some sources include a smaller pinnacle (#0) and a satellite peaklet (#2.5) to increase this number to 10.5 summits. The climbs to the tops of the various peaklets range from class 3-5 and have many possible variations. The easiest summits (#8, #7, #5, #2, and #1) take a few minutes of scrambling to climb, while the most difficult summit (Peak #9) is two pitches with a 5.7 crux. The highest summit is #3. Even though Croft's version of the Cathedral Traverse entails just climbing the highest of the Echo Peaks, we thought it would be fun to tag them all. Since it requires about 4-5 hours to climb them all, this added a significant amount of time to our traverse. But it was worth the fun! We climbed the Peaks in an order that seemed to be quite efficient both in space and ease of climbing: #8, #9, #5, #7, #0, #6, #4, #3, #2.5, #2, #1.
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 Echo Peaks from the north. (Photo/annotations by Mark Thomas.) |  On top of Echo Peak #5 (third in our climbing order), Mark and I discussed that it "sure would be nice to have a map and route line for an efficient way to tag all these summits." So here it is! This is a plan view of the Echo Peaks and an efficient way to tag all 10.5. (Map concept by Steph and Mark, final graphic design by Mark.) |  Mark on the top of Echo Peak #8, the first we climbed. Behind him closest to the left is Echo Peak #9. Behind on the far ridge are Echo Peaks #4, #3, #2.5, #2, and #1. Echo Peak #6 and #5 are also visible. |  Steph leading the first pitch up the SW Face of Echo Peak #9. At 5.7, Echo Peak #9 is the hardest of the Echo Peaks. The rock is a sea of knobs and I admit I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea that a foothold or handhold might break loose, despite the fact the knobs seemed solidly attached. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  Looking up the final knobby portion of the second pitch of the SW Face of Echo Peak #9. In this photo Mark is on the summit. |
 Echo Peaks #8 (left) and #9 (right) are separated by a huge chasm. I wonder if anyone has summited #9 via a tyrolean traverse. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  After #8 and #9, we headed towards Echo Peak #7. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  After #7, we climbed Echo Peak #5. This is me on the summit of Echo Peak #5, with Echo Peaks #4, #3, and #2 behind. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  After tagging the tiny Echo Peak #0, we climbed Echo Peak #6 via its vague N Ridge, shown in the photo. This is Class 4. We rappelled the W Face. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  Natural handhold I found while rappelling the W Face of Echo Peak #6. I wouldn't trust it, but it was pretty cool. |
 After #6, we climbed Echo Peak #4 along the left side of the gully between #4 and #3 on the east side. This route was 4th class on solid rock. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  Looking towards Echo Peak #3 from #4. |  From the summit of #4, we climbed just right of the S Ridge of Echo Peak #3. This route looks improbable straight on, but it was 4th class up solid ribs of granite. |  Black and white version of the previous photo. |  From #3, we scrambled along the 3rd clsas ridge connecting Echo Peaks #3, #2.5, #2 and #1. Echo Peaks #0, #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9 are also in the photo. |
 Billy and Wombie on top of Echo Peak #2. (Photo by Mark Thomas.) |  We ended our Echo Peakbagging adventure with Echo Peak #1. Here Mark is on its sharp summit crest. | | | |
