Mountain Climbing

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid
The 20 letters (circled in the diagram) spell The Abominable Snowman.

Across

  • •
    COARSE: COARSE (homophone)
  • •
    STRANGEST: ST(RANGE)ST → enter as STERANGEST
  • •
    ENUMERATION: ENUMERATION (anag.) → enter as NOLITAREMUN
  • •
    OPERA: OPERA (anag.) → enter as AREPO
  • •
    UTAHANS: UTAHANS (anag.) → enter as TTAHANS
  • •
    PLAZA: PLA + Z + A ("alp" rev.) → enter as PBLAZA
  • •
    GIRDLE: GIRD(L)E (anag. + "L") → enter as GIRD, ELN
  • •
    DIALOGS: DIALOGS (anag.) → enter as SGIOLAID
  • •
    CARAT: CAR(A)T → enter as HRAC, AT
  • •
    BROW: BROW(n)
  • •
    CLIMAX: CLIM(b) + AX → enter as CWLIMA
  • •
    RELIC: RE(L)IC (anag. + "l") → enter as CILAER
  • •
    SIAM: SIAM (hidden) → enter as MAIS
  • •
    STEAL: STEAL (anag.) → enter as TS, EAL
  • •
    DEANS: DEANS (anag.)
  • •
    NOTICED: NOTICED → enter as NO, DECIT
  • •
    PINTO: PINTO (anag.) → enter as NBIP, TO
  • •
    GARCON: GARC + ON (rev.)
  • •
    BALLED: B(ALL)ED → enter as DELLA
  • •
    LOOM: LOOM (first letters) → enter as AL, OOM
  • •
    APEX: APE + X → enter as AO, OMAPN, ENS

Down

  • 1.
    CUT: CU + T → enter as TUC
  • 2.
    OATH: OAT + H (anag. + "h") → enter as HTAO
  • 3.
    ARARAT: ARARAT (hidden) → enter as TARARA
  • 4.
    SPACEMAN: SP(ACEM)AN ("came" anag.) → enter as NAMECAPS
  • 5.
    EONS: EONS (anag.) → enter as SNOE
  • 6.
    TOPI: TOP + I → enter as IPOT
  • 7.
    ELBOW: EL + BOW → enter as WOBLE
  • 8.
    RILL: R + ILL → enter as LLIR
  • 9.
    NAZI: NA(Z)I (anag. + "z") → enter as IZAN
  • 10.
    GRADIENT: GRADIENT (anag.) → enter as TNEIDARG
  • 11.
    SMILAX: SMILA + X (anag. + "x") → enter as XALIMS
  • 12.
    TURN: TUR + N ("rut" rev.) → enter as NRUT
  • 13.
    END: END (hidden) → enter as DNE
  • 14.
    GRID: GRID (anag. minus "e") → enter as DIRG
  • 15.
    AWLS: AW(L)S (anag. + "l") → enter as SLWA
  • 16.
    BALBOA: B(ALB)OA → enter as AOBLAB
  • 17.
    LAMINA: L + AMINA ("anima" rev.) → enter as ANIMAL
  • 18.
    CADRE: CADRE (anag.) → enter as ERDAC
  • 19.
    IGLOO: I + GLOO(m) → enter as OOLGI
  • 20.
    COLON: COL + ON → enter as NOLOC
  • 21.
    DOME: DO + ME → enter as EMOD
  • 22.
    LAPS: LAPS(e) → enter as SPAL
  • 23.
    MANX: MA(N)X → enter as XNAM