SummitPost.org

I'm sure this has been covered before, my apologies up front.

Looking for recommendations for good solo day climbs (summits) anywhere in colorado. Technical to about 5.7 or .8 down to cl4. really need to keep it under 15 mi rt due to ankle problems. Obviously prefer less crowded routes.

Thanks

If you tell me when you're gonna be there, I might be there, too. I go to Denver every month.

dug wrote:I'm sure this has been covered before, my apologies up front.

Looking for recommendations for good solo day climbs (summits) anywhere in colorado. Technical to about 5.7 or .8 down to cl4. really need to keep it under 15 mi rt due to ankle problems. Obviously prefer less crowded routes.

Thanks

South face of Petit Grepon is an excellent route (one of the 50 Classics)- what I'd consider an old school 5.8. I've also heard that Kieners Route on Longs Peak & the E face of the 3rd Flatiron (above Boulder), I believe both .4, are supposed to be really good. The Bastille Crack is a great old school .7 in Eldo.

Steve Larson wrote:If you tell me when you're gonna be there, I might be there, too. I go to Denver every month.

Probably somewhere around the 20th. But thats just a guess.
Interesting the only comments have come from cali climbers.

dug wrote:

Steve Larson wrote:If you tell me when you're gonna be there, I might be there, too. I go to Denver every month.

Probably somewhere around the 20th. But thats just a guess.
Interesting the only comments have come from cali climbers.

Dug, I think your question is too vague to get a good response. Try being a little more specific about where.

Bill Reed wrote:
Dug, I think your question is too vague to get a good response. Try being a little more specific about where.

dug wrote:anywhere in colorado.

Not trying to be a dick. If ya got a favorite I'm all ears. Also found some stuff that looks good on MP.

dug wrote:

Steve Larson wrote:If you tell me when you're gonna be there, I might be there, too. I go to Denver every month.

Probably somewhere around the 20th. But thats just a guess.
Interesting the only comments have come from cali climbers.

I sent an idea or two in a PM. As for Petit Grepon, pretty likely to have company there. Sharks tooth is in the same area, but much less crowded. I've never been to the Flatirons without a lot of other people being around. I thought about Keiners but it's probably a bit longer than Dug was looking for. Ellingwood Ledges might be good but I don't recall the distances. Little Bear-Blanca traverse is a good option.

Edit: Looking at MP, http://mountainproject.com/v/colorado/alpine_rock/rmnp__rock/106563905 looks interesting

Not alpine, but the approaches at Eldo are comparable to J-Tree. Start of Bastille is maybe a 2-minute walk from the parking lot! Garden of the Gods has a ton of moderates, but it's loose- probably not the best place to solo.

mconnell wrote:I've never been to the Flatirons without a lot of other people being around.

In my experience, crowds are only encountered on the First and the Third and, to a lesser extent, on Seal Rock. This morning there were parties on Hubris, Kamikaze Roofs, Baker's Way and, obviously, on the Direct East Face, but I had the Second all to myself. If you then leave the beaten path, you normally see nobody all day.

In RMNP, Notchtop is good and not too long. Spiral Route + Mornin' is 5.7 and no rope is needed for the descent. The North Ridge of Mount Toll (5.6) in the Indian Peaks is also nice and the round trip is less than 10 miles. The descent is a walk-off.