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West Face

  • Grade context: US
  • Ascents: 79

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Routes

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Grade Route

FA: Steve Cheyney, Bob Stauch & Pete Croff, 1983

Boulder Problem or Top Rope

FA: Mike Johnson & Bob D'Antonio, 1983

FA: Bob Robertson, 1982

FA: Harvey Carter, 1960

FFA: Leonard Coyne, 1979

FFA: Richard Aschert, 1985

Part of a large flake on the South Gateway Rock, it forms into a separate column near the top.

P1. The start is tricky, on a rough overhang. The old drilled pins have been replaced with 3 modern bolts. There is a thin belay stance about halfway up the length of the column. 50', 5.7.

P2. Ascend the crack that becomes a chimney passing 2 drilled pins. The best part is after you finish the chimney section and end the second pitch by pulling left onto the top of the column. The view is awesome, and well worth the effort. 95', 5.7+.

P3. To top out, you step across from the flake to the right just below a drilled pin. This move has become more difficult as the rock eroded. Climb past a drilled angle to a finishing groove. It is kind of scary and hard up there, so it's not done as often. Belay to the south on a ledge system behind the main wall. Scramble south down the big gully to the end of South Gateway to get off.

FFA: Harvey Carter, 1950

Follow bolts to anchor

FA: Harvey Carter, 1950

This is an exciting route that goes up the steep white face of the Indian Head formation, right of West Point Crack. It begins at an overhang with a new bolt just off the ground.

P1) Crank the overhang, then continue up on easier terrain past a thread for some protection, and another new bolt. Step right to a crack where you can place a #4 Camalot, then continue up to another new bolt. (At this point, the Indian Head Route continues straight up). Traverse right past 2 drilled pitons, and make an exciting move right to a left facing corner. You can place a #0.75 Camalot here, but it's not that great, nor is it too necessary. Climb to the top of the pillar and belay from two bolts and a ring angle piton. (5.9+, 90 feet)

P2) Climb straight up about 12 feet on steep, friable rock to a bolt and a piton. This is pretty exciting and has potential for a factor 2 fall onto the anchor. Traverse right about 10 feet to a left facing corner/flake/groove. It's possible to place a #3 Camalot here, but a few feet higher is another new bolt. Continue up steep, sustained, and loose climbing, past four more new bolts to the obvious saddle in the white rock. (5.10+ R, 70 feet)

Rappel the route. Or climb straight up a slab from the top of the flake on the right and walk off (5.6 R, 40 feet).

FA: John Auld & Gary Ziegler, 1960

FFA: Earl Wiggins & Jim Souder, 1976

FA: Steve Hong, Ed Webster & Earl Wiggins, 1976

FA: Earl Wiggins, Ed Webster & Steve Hong, 1976

The route begins behind a large boulder about 70' to the right of West Point Crack. The first piton if reached by getting between the boulder and South Gateway Rock and climbing up and left on a steep ramp. From there, follow the obvious line where the white and red sandstone meet and form a crack/edge. This leads to a face climb protected by 4 pins straight up to double anchors. Rap from the anchors or continue up the second pitch which ascends an angling ramp up and right.

FA: Gary Zeigler & John Auld, 1960

FFA: Morgan Gadd & Skip Hamilton, 1970

P1 - First pitch of Credibility Gap P2 - Traverse up and right pass 8 drilled pitons

FA: Mark Rolofson & Ed Webster, 1978

FA: Harvey Carter, 1982

FA: Harvey Carter, 1982

FA: Ed Webster & Harvey Carter, 1982

Sport?

FA: Ian Spencer-Green & Stewart Green, 1993

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Selected Guidebooks more Hide

Author(s): Gerry Roach

Date: 2022

ISBN: 9781641607759

Providing accurate and comprehensive info, the 4th edition of Fulcrum Colorado's Fourteeners includes standard, alternate and technical routes for all 58 peaks over 14,000 ft. in the Centennial state.

  • Updated to include up-to-date topographic maps, GPS coordinates, expanded route details and alterations to trail access
  • Multiple tables and appendices summarize features for quick reference
  • Author Gerry Roach shares his expertise from over 50 years of mountaineering
  • Includes full colour photos and 31 maps

Author(s): Matt Payne and Bob Rosebrough

Date: 2022

ISBN: 9781937052775

Colorado Mountain Club:
Climbing Colorado's San Juans is a treasure trove of adventures ranging from easy scrambles for the outdoor novice to advanced, technical ascents of staggering summits for seasoned peakbaggers.
  • Chapters are organized into 13 mountain subgroups
  • Covers nearly 300 routes and 200 peaks—including 13 of Colorado's 54 fourteeners and 29 of its highest Centennial peaks
  • Includes key intel, maps, color photos and storied explanations of San Juan mountain's climbing history

Author(s): James Dziezynski

Date: 2021

ISBN: 9781493046201

FalconGuides:
Collecting the very best nontechnical hikes and scrambles on the Centennial State's 13,000-foot mountains, Climbing Colorado's Thirteeners showcases 50 routes among these beautiful mountains.
  • Featuring accurate driving directions, at-a-glance stats and turn-by-turn descriptions of the routes to each peak, this guide is great for adventurers of all skill levels
  • Though the guide covers the entire state of Colorado, there is a slight bias toward summits within a 2 hr. drive of the Denver/Boulder metro area

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