West Buttress (South Howser Tower)

West Buttress of South Howser Tower
Topo digram of the route.
LocationSelkirk Range, British Columbia, Canada
RangePurcell Mountains, East Kootenay
Climbing areaBugaboos
Route typeTraditional climbing, Alpine climbing
Vertical gain750-metre (2,460 ft)
Pitches17 to 22
Rating5.8 (5b) & A2 (aided) / 5.10 (1) (free)
GradeV
First ascentFred Beckey & Yvon Chouinard (August 1961)

The West Buttress of South Howser Tower is a circa 17 pitch 750-metre (2,460 ft) alpine-climbing traditional-climbing route, in The Bugaboos range of the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia in Canada. The route is considered to be one the finest alpine climbing routes in North America, and akin to a big wall climbing rock climbing route.