EGYPTIAN MONOLYTHS There is a mountain in the desert. It is more beautiful than South Guardian Angel, as remte as the Cerro de la Enacantada. Most Desert Peak Section members have probably stared at it, as have several million sane individuals, and not realized its true potential. Only 200 feet of net gain separate most viewers from its jagged summit, but a round trip involves around 10,000 feet of gain, miles of exceptional1y rugged cross-country and some technical climbing, as well. Known as Isis Temple, it is located in the heart of the Grand Canyon, and, as you can see, it offers every attribute to which Desert Peakers traditionally respond. An ascent of Isis will take more grit than usual, though. For on this Canyon giant the unusual number and variety of natural barriers is augmented by the unknown & true, trailess, and wilderness for which there is no published climbing data. What follows is an account of one meager attempt to scale Isis Temple and the adventure that ensued. It is a story of failure on Isis, uplifted to joyful success with the unexpected ascent of Isis's lesser neighbor, Cheops Pyramid. At 7,012 feet, Isis Temple is one of the Grand Canyon's highest summits. Both its remarkable physical appearance and its isolated position directly opposite the South Rim Visitor Center make it the Canyon's most notable monument. As one of the most photographed natural objects in the world, one would expect that it would have been climbed often, and that there would exist several published accounts of those accents, Not so! Nor is 'guide-book' information available on ANY of the 130-odd named Grand Canyon summits. Like a few others before me, I discovered that within the Grand Canyon I was dealing with one of the last virgin climbing territories in the West! Although there is a dearth of printed matter regarding Canyon climbs, there is at least one Canyon expert (No, not Colin Fletcher!) available for consultation. Dr. Harvey Butchart, of Flagstaff, Arizona, has written a valuable, information packed volume, 'Grand Canyon Treks' published by La Siesta Press. This little book wee a real find, and a boon to my Isis plans, for its contents deal with both trail, and cross-country routes. Careful reading indicated that the author is possessed of a climbing eye. I soon established a lively correspondence with Butchart, who proved to be as interesting as the knowledge he revealed. He has climbed throughout the West, but has specialized in Grand Canyon peaks, of which he has ascended around 70. I found the Doctor to be a very helpful expert and would recommend anyone attempting a Canyon climb to start by contacting him. According to Butchart, Isis Temple has been climbed only twice, both times via a route originating on the North Rim. This route is circuitous, winding around to the southeast extension of Isis prior to turning upward for the summit, but it has the advantage of gaining the peak at a point above the Redwall. This is a 600 foot high limestone cliff that forms the Canyon's most formidable climbing barrier. In the end, it was the prospect of several hundred feet of 5th class on the Redwall that was to prevent us from putting up & new route via the S. buttress of Isis. It was also the Redwall that provided us with the means for an unexpected excursion of Cheops Pyramid. Picture us now; myself, Jon Hardt, and Dolores Holladay. Having decided to attempt a new route on the S. buttress, we have delivered ourselves upon the northwest spur of Cheops Pyramid. Here we can look down upon the Cheops/Isis saddle, and we can also examine the SE buttress head-on. An adventure has placed us here: the descent down the Kaibab Trail to the shaded oasis of Bright Angel Campground; Jon's labor-saving discovery of water-filled basins in the Tapeats; the cross-country route into upper Phantom Canyon, with overlooks into the surrealistic grandeur of Phantom and daunted Canyons; the traverse across the base of Cheops and the attempt to reach the Cheops/Isis saddle via a sloping shale ledge that eventually petered out; and finally this detour onto the shoulder

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