
The Castle Peaks visible in the distance, seen from our parking spot.

We hiked along the dirt road to the wilderness boundary, seen here.

The road continues through the wilderness toward the base of Castle Peaks.

We left the road when it bent north, now heading through washes/humps. Our goal is to reach the saddle above Chris' head.

Approaching the saddle. Castle Peaks North is somewhere on the right, likely hidden.

View back toward the saddle we came through. Hart Peak visible distant center.

Along the ascend to Castle Peaks North, a view toward the rest of the Castle Peaks. Dove Benchmark visible on the right.

Straightforward side-hilling along the base of Castle Peaks North.

The slope becomes steeper and more rugged as we start up Castle Peaks North.

View back. We came from the left in this photo. Dove Benchmark (Castle Peaks Middle) seen top right.

Chris at the base of the crux (seen above him). Short Class 2 move, then a ramp, then we're at the crux.

Short ramp.

Chris on the Class 4 crux.

View back down the Class 4 crux. We continued ascending behind me.

Past the crux (top left), now a bit higher on Class 2 terrain.

Approaching the Class 3 ramp.

Fun moves on this more solid section.

Castle Peaks North summit ahead, Chris seen coming up the Class 3 section.

Castle Peaks North, view toward Castle Peaks Middle (Dove Benchmark). Once we get back down from Castle Peaks North, we'd head along the ridge in the center of this photo.

Close-up toward Dove Benchmark and Blade Peak.

Along the ridge, Dove Benchmark visible center.

We wrapped to the right around Dove Benchmark until we reached an obvious grassy gully (the start of which is seen just right of center). This gully would bring us to the south ridge of the peak.

At the top of the gully on the south side of Dove Benchmark. We made a left here to start ascending along the ridge.

Along the south ridge of Dove Benchmark. Class 2/3 stuff, all fun and straightforward.

View back along the ridge, Blade Peak visible top center.

Class 2/3 obstacle.

The summit block of Dove Benchmark. To get to the easier route option, wrap around it on the right.

Wrapping around the summit block.

Now on the northeast side of Dove Benchmark, we located the 20-foot climb up a flared chimney.

Close-up of Chris feeling around at the start of the route.

Chris at an anchor above the crux.

Halfway up, I grabbed a shot of the chimney.

Crux seen center, now we're on Class 2/3 terrain. Above me the route splits: right goes up a fun chimney, left up a ramp.

Class 3/4 chimney option.

Class 2 ramp option. The chimney option is visible on the right.

Dove Benchmark summit, view toward Castle Peaks North (North Castle Butte).

Dove Benchmark summit, view toward Blade Peak.

Dove Benchmark summit, view toward Castle Mountains National Monument (Hart Peak seen on the left).

Chris rapping down the crux.
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