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12130 Hits
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92.04% Score
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37 Votes
Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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38.12027°N / 108.86982°W |
County:
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San Miquel |
Activities:
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Trad Climbing, Sport Climbing, Scrambling |
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Elevation:
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5344 ft / 1629 m |
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Overview
Psycho Tower
Nameless Face on Psycho Tower
What an incredible tower located in the southwestern Colorado! I don't mind coming back there. The name is attractive to some and imagine the route name - Psychopath!
Climbing Style: crack, sport
Season: Fall through Spring (summer tends to be very hot, start early)
Land Status: BLM (Bureau of Land Management)
Restrictions: none
Road Access: good dirt road, regular vehicle
Gear Suggestion: sport gear (6 draws, some long runners) and for the 1st pitch small trad gear (small cams up to # 3 cam), one 60 meter rope sufficient
Approach Time: ~ 20 min (the tower is visible the whole time)
Length of climb: 3 (4 if you add Nameless Face) pitches, about 3 hrs
Difficulty: exposed 5.9+ climbing (Nameless Face is 5.11a)
Psycho Tower is a beautiful sandstone tower located in western Colorado, Big Gypsum Valley. The whole area has tons of climbing potential and many of the climbs are described in Charlie Fowler's book The Wild Wild West. And it is really wild here. This is a climbers paradise. When you reach the top of the tower and look around, there is no sign of human habitat other that the dirt road below.
Most of the famous sandstone towers are in Utah. Psycho Tower is relatively easy (rated as 5.9+) when compared to most of the sandstone towers. Please keep in mind it is an old school 5.9, and there is a very exposed and well protected traverse on its second pitch (the exposure is right above the "neck", a fall would mean hanging in a free space). This is not a route for a beginner sport climber. The route's name "Psychopath" says it - can get little psychotic up there:). The area is very secluded, so most likely you will be enjoying a solitude. Lately, this climb has become more popular, and it has been featured in several climbing magazines.
The tower was first climbed by its most popular and easiest route "Psycho-Path" by Charlie Fowler and Steve Johnson (Telluride's attorney) in 1996.
There are several climbs on this tower described in the guidebook.
Nameless Face 5.11 a/b - is fine 1 pitch bolted face which leads to the start of regular route Psycho-Path. The start is tough, and it is not the easiest warm up. It does get easier higher up. If you wish you can top rope this route if walking towards the regular start of Psychopath and scrambling up the first pitch.
Psycho-Path 5.9 - 3 pitches (all about 5.9, and all slightly different in the climbing style, from face to crack, to traverse, and corner). This is the original route and the most popular route (also the easiest route).
The Bear 5.10+: is another variation, which joins the original route Psycho-Path about half way up the first pitch. It start as large hands to OW.
Getting There
Big Gypsum Valley
Dolores River
I would like to mention watch out for the deer on your way back. We drove back twice during twilight home and had as many as 12 very close deer/elk encounters on the road. I live in Colorado and am used to deer running on the roads, but this area was particularly more frequent.
The road gets muddy after a rain and 4 WD high clearance vehicle would be preferable, but during the dry times any car should make it to the parking lot.
![Climber on the traverse]()
Climber on the traverse
PITCH 1 (5.9, 75 feet) Scramble up to a big ledge on the northwest side of the tower and find a bolted anchor at the start of the climb. Face climb past two bolts, move right (airy step!) and continue up a corner and flake system, then trend up and right over ledges to a bolted belay. The corner system is protected with small trad gear (nuts and small cams).
PITCH 2 (5.9, 50 feet) Step up and right, around a corner, then edge along the lip past several bolts. The traverse starts very easy, but eventually you end up right above the giant overhang of the tower. The traverse gets tougher, luckily it is well protected with closely spaced bolts. The last section goes straight up with not much feet. Don't take a fall here, you would end up hanging in free air. Lowering is not an option here - you are very high and rope would not reach the ground. The exposure is wild. Crank up to a spacious belay ledge, and walk north about 20 feet to an anchor below the bolts of the final pitch. No trad gear needed on this pitch, generously bolted.
PITCH 3 (5.9+, 50 feet) Face climb past several bolts (some stemming moves in a shallow corner), with a bulge crux that’s likely 5.10 if you’re shorter than 5’10”. Above the last bolt, easier climbing protected by a few mid-sized cams gains the top.
VARIATION, PITCH 1: NAMELESS FACE (5.11a/b, 70 feet) Ascend the southwest face directly to reach the shoulder on the north side. It joins the start of the regular route "Psycho-Path" in the saddle. Climb a thin face past seven bolts, the first moves are hard (crux). You can easily avoid this pitch by walking above to the north side of the tower and scrambling to the saddle from the north side. It is a tough warm-up, but spices your adventure.
DESCENT: Rappel to the northwest. Two raps with a single rope. The 2nd rap station is slightly to the west - you have to swing to it a little bit. You can actually see the 2nd rappel station on your way up (look to your left while climbing 1st pitch, large ledge).
One double rope rappel from summit's north face can take you down.
Climb in the images as it happened
Psycho-Path 5.9
The approach to the tower is easy to follow. There is a small parking lot and trail marked with frequent cairns. You see the tower from the road and during the entire ascending hike. It takes about 20 min to reach the base of the tower. As you are getting closer, you will first encounter the optional pitch Nameless Face 5.11-, or you can just scramble on a steep patch along the western side of the tower to its north side and 4th class to the start of the regular route. I would like to mention that this 4th classing is probably lower 5th class exposed climbing per my opinion and it has some loose rocks on it. Also, during the warmer months could be infested with rattlesnakes. My partner nearly got bit by a rattlesnake when placing his hand inside a crack. It was during our first trip to Psycho Tower in early November.
Climber on the traverse
PITCH 1 (5.9, 75 feet) Scramble up to a big ledge on the northwest side of the tower and find a bolted anchor at the start of the climb. Face climb past two bolts, move right (airy step!) and continue up a corner and flake system, then trend up and right over ledges to a bolted belay. The corner system is protected with small trad gear (nuts and small cams).
PITCH 2 (5.9, 50 feet) Step up and right, around a corner, then edge along the lip past several bolts. The traverse starts very easy, but eventually you end up right above the giant overhang of the tower. The traverse gets tougher, luckily it is well protected with closely spaced bolts. The last section goes straight up with not much feet. Don't take a fall here, you would end up hanging in free air. Lowering is not an option here - you are very high and rope would not reach the ground. The exposure is wild. Crank up to a spacious belay ledge, and walk north about 20 feet to an anchor below the bolts of the final pitch. No trad gear needed on this pitch, generously bolted.
PITCH 3 (5.9+, 50 feet) Face climb past several bolts (some stemming moves in a shallow corner), with a bulge crux that’s likely 5.10 if you’re shorter than 5’10”. Above the last bolt, easier climbing protected by a few mid-sized cams gains the top.
VARIATION, PITCH 1: NAMELESS FACE (5.11a/b, 70 feet) Ascend the southwest face directly to reach the shoulder on the north side. It joins the start of the regular route "Psycho-Path" in the saddle. Climb a thin face past seven bolts, the first moves are hard (crux). You can easily avoid this pitch by walking above to the north side of the tower and scrambling to the saddle from the north side. It is a tough warm-up, but spices your adventure.
DESCENT: Rappel to the northwest. Two raps with a single rope. The 2nd rap station is slightly to the west - you have to swing to it a little bit. You can actually see the 2nd rappel station on your way up (look to your left while climbing 1st pitch, large ledge).
One double rope rappel from summit's north face can take you down.
 Approach |  Getting closer |  Nameless Face 5.11a/b |  Nameless Face 5.11a/b |  4th classing |
 Anchors at the start |  1st pitch |  top of 1st pitch |  2nd pitch start |  2nd pitch start |
 2nd pitch end |  Large ledge, 3rd pitch start |  3rd pitch |  Summit laugh |  Summit registry |
Red Tape
There are no fees and no restrictions to climb this tower. Psycho Tower - 2nd pitch = the start of the traverse |  Psycho Tower - 1st pitch pitch |  Nameless Face 5.11 a/b |
 Psycho Tower summit - party of 3 czech men and me (czech too) |  Psycho Tower 5.9+ |  Psycho Tower - the traverse |
Camping
Dolores River
Climbers on Psychopath
River Dolores is named after dolor = pain. It caused too much pain to the Spanish Fathers Domingo and Escalante during their exploration of this part of the territory.
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