Mountain Climbing

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution grid
The 20 letters (circled in the diagram) spell The Abominable Snowman.

Across

  • COARSE: COARSE (homophone)
  • STRANGEST: ST(RANGE)ST
  • ENUMERATION: ENUMERATION (anag.)
  • OPERA: OPERA (anag.)
  • UTAHANS: UTAHANS (anag.)
  • PLAZA: PLA + Z + A ("alp" rev.)
  • GIRDLE: GIRD(L)E (anag. + "L")
  • DIALOGS: DIALOGS (anag.)
  • CARAT: CAR(A)T
  • BROW: BROW(n)
  • CLIMAX: CLIM(b) + AX
  • RELIC: RE(L)IC (anag. + "l")
  • SIAM: SIAM (hidden)
  • STEAL: STEAL (anag.)
  • DEANS: DEANS (anag.)
  • NOTICED: NOTICED
  • PINTO: PINTO (anag.)
  • GARCON: GARC + ON (rev.)
  • BALLED: B(ALL)ED
  • LOOM: LOOM (first letters)
  • APEX: APE + X

Down

  • 1.
    CUT: CU + T
  • 2.
    OATH: OAT + H (anag. + "h")
  • 3.
    ARARAT: ARARAT (hidden)
  • 4.
    SPACEMAN: SP(ACEM)AN ("came" anag.)
  • 5.
    EONS: EONS (anag.)
  • 6.
    TOPI: TOP + I
  • 7.
    ELBOW: EL + BOW
  • 8.
    RILL: R + ILL
  • 9.
    NAZI: NA(Z)I (anag. + "z")
  • 10.
    GRADIENT: GRADIENT (anag.)
  • 11.
    SMILAX: SMILA + X (anag. + "x")
  • 12.
    TURN: TUR + N ("rut" rev.)
  • 13.
    END: END (hidden)
  • 14.
    GRID: GRID (anag. minus "e")
  • 15.
    AWLS: AW(L)S (anag. + "l")
  • 16.
    BALBOA: B(ALB)OA
  • 17.
    LAMINA: L + AMINA ("anima" rev.)
  • 18.
    CADRE: CADRE (anag.)
  • 19.
    IGLOO: I + GLOO(m)
  • 20.
    COLON: COL + ON
  • 21.
    DOME: DO + ME
  • 22.
    LAPS: LAPS(e)
  • 23.
    MANX: MA(N)X