Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
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Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Hey kids,
What are some of the finest "hidden/underground" Colorado scrambles that you have come across? Roach's book highlights the obvious ones: Capitol's knife edge and the airy pitch ascending the Needle on the Crestone traverse are two that come to mind. Furthermore, Cooper has an entire book dedicated to quality scrambles on lower peaks: Arrow, Engineer Mountain, Lone Cone to name just a few.
What I'd love to hear are some of the scrambles that don't have much beta, scrambles you've come across that aren't well-known, are hard to access....scrambles on the down low, if you will. Following is my contribution.
Just yesterday, I got a chance to stumble across one of the most awesome scrambling pitches I have ever encountered. From the Lindsey/"Huerfanito" saddle, Jake and I took the "Huerfanito" east ridge proper (mostly) until we topped out. Later parts of the line were quite sketchy. I saw some of the most rotten rock I have ever seen in the Sangres here. However, the initial headwall hid this amazing cave-tunnel-hole thing that required a good 50 feet of low class 5 ascending.
What are some of the finest "hidden/underground" Colorado scrambles that you have come across? Roach's book highlights the obvious ones: Capitol's knife edge and the airy pitch ascending the Needle on the Crestone traverse are two that come to mind. Furthermore, Cooper has an entire book dedicated to quality scrambles on lower peaks: Arrow, Engineer Mountain, Lone Cone to name just a few.
What I'd love to hear are some of the scrambles that don't have much beta, scrambles you've come across that aren't well-known, are hard to access....scrambles on the down low, if you will. Following is my contribution.
Just yesterday, I got a chance to stumble across one of the most awesome scrambling pitches I have ever encountered. From the Lindsey/"Huerfanito" saddle, Jake and I took the "Huerfanito" east ridge proper (mostly) until we topped out. Later parts of the line were quite sketchy. I saw some of the most rotten rock I have ever seen in the Sangres here. However, the initial headwall hid this amazing cave-tunnel-hole thing that required a good 50 feet of low class 5 ascending.
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Last edited by doggler on Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- SpringsHiker
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Looks like a great climb Sean. Most anything I could think of I'm fairly certain you have done. One possibility: the connecting ridge from Treasure to Treasury, if you stay true to the ridge on the ascent to Treasury looks like a nice wall with class 4 and maybe some low class 5. Not a huge wall but one nice, sustained section.
Trying to find my pictures of it but not finding them...will post when I locate them.
Trying to find my pictures of it but not finding them...will post when I locate them.
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- Sugar Madison
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
East Beckwith was a pretty fun scramble. Kane did a write-up on it on SP a long time ago... "Five Cirque Traverse". I did the cirque he didn't do. All looked really fun.
http://www.summitpost.org/five-cirquetr ... dge/159044
http://www.summitpost.org/five-cirquetr ... dge/159044
- Sugar Madison
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Not sure I have the stones for this one... but *DAYAM* it looks sweet!
http://www.summitpost.org/chair-mountai ... 7/c-216987
http://www.summitpost.org/chair-mountai ... 7/c-216987
- bethtrombone
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
The Indian Peaks has some great traverses. I have done the South-North Arapaho traverse (class 3 with some 4 moves), the Mt. Neva ridge (Class 3/4), and the Mt. Bancroft ridge (Class 4 with a rappel and a short 5.2 climb). Then there's the Kasparov Traverse which I want to do some day. http://www.summitpost.org/indian-peaks- ... dge/669823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've been playing with some of the climbs on this list as well: http://www.summitpost.org/colorado-ridg ... les/190898" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Have done about 10 of them plus some others as well. There are a lot of great scrambles out there if you look for them!
I've been playing with some of the climbs on this list as well: http://www.summitpost.org/colorado-ridg ... les/190898" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Have done about 10 of them plus some others as well. There are a lot of great scrambles out there if you look for them!
I can and will remind you of two of the most important facts I know:
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1. Everything is part of the mystery.
2. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
-Tom Robbins
Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
The Sawtooth Range is one of my favorites in Colorado. Great scenery, excellent rock, and I've never run into other people there. It's like the Gore Range, but with a lot less people.
First photos is Jack Brauer's:
http://www.mountainphotography.com/photo/sawtooth-lake/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
First photos is Jack Brauer's:
http://www.mountainphotography.com/photo/sawtooth-lake/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Kit Carson north ridge
northeast face of little bear
northeast face of little bear
Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
I love this thread and am bookmarking for future ideas. To revisit some 14ers, Crestones north buttress is a stout airy class 4, and taking the Capitol ridge direct gets into class 4 that renders the knife edge trivial.
The rock quality in the IPW is hard to beat. I liked Navajo and a variation I found to climb from the saddle instead of first contouring around the back side. You are faster than I am, I think, so perhaps you could complete the Willow Lake ridge tour. The ridge south from Adams is pretty sweet.
The rock quality in the IPW is hard to beat. I liked Navajo and a variation I found to climb from the saddle instead of first contouring around the back side. You are faster than I am, I think, so perhaps you could complete the Willow Lake ridge tour. The ridge south from Adams is pretty sweet.
- Pennacle
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Chair Mountain looks like a good time but the post says there is some red tape to cut through to gain access to the private land. Perhaps a 14ers group climb could help gain access??? I'd be up for this.
http://www.summitpost.org/chair-mountain/216987
http://www.summitpost.org/chair-mountain/216987
- FireOnTheMountain
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Not trying to promote my outings but this was fun...Billy Traverse
This is also a big time favorite of mine which Otina documented awesomely (Wayah Group
West Truro to Truro really fun and gendarmy.
Cats out of the bag....? Thanks for the tip of Huerf Sean.
This is also a big time favorite of mine which Otina documented awesomely (Wayah Group
West Truro to Truro really fun and gendarmy.
Cats out of the bag....? Thanks for the tip of Huerf Sean.
Everyday is a G r A t E f U L Day here in the ID...?
- Tory Wells
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Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
I liked this thread for scrambling ideas as well.Marmot72 wrote:I love this thread and am bookmarking for future ideas.
http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=37242
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"We knocked the bastard off." Hillary, 1953
"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Hillary, 2003
Couldn't we all use 50 years of humble growth?
-Steve Gladbach
Re: Colorado's best "on the d/l" scrambles
Wow, those pics of the sawtooth range are spectacular, any good class 3/4 recommendations there?