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Brown Cloud Rocks
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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
Anti-viral 
Ark, The 
Axis of Weasels 
Baggins' Blunt Arete 
Big Dihedral 
Bolted Line 
Brown Cloud Arête 
Bullet The Brown Cloud 
Chimney 
Crack 
Crack (2 left of Interface) 
Crack (right of Interface) 
Deck Chairs on the Titanic 
Interface aka Slab Left 
Iraqi Road 
John Adams' Adams Apple 
Kid's Climb 
Killian's Dead 
Louise 
New River Gorge Homesick Blues 
Old Roof Route aka Lemons, Limes, and Tangerines 
Pee Into the Wind 
Pee on Dee 
Pee on Me 
Protection From the Virus 
Punkin Puss & Mushmouse aka Bow of the Titanic 
Retro-Crack 
Right of Interface 
Solo Route aka Life Raft 
Tenacious 
Thelma 
Thick Crust 
Tiny Face 
Tiny Pillar 
Top Rope Face (aka Rising Passion) 
Unknown Crack 
Unknown Crack (Right of The Virus) 
Unknown left of Left Slab 
Unknown Route 
Variation to The Virus 
Virus, The 
Volobee (aka Jolobee) 
Wide Crack 
Windy Days 
Ypsilon 

Brown Cloud Rocks 


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Lat, Long: 39.7683, -105.218 Map
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Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Greg Robertson on Jan 1, 2001

Make this area a Favorite
What's New
  Print a Mini-Guide with routes

Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event 


Steve Mestas launches the opening.

Description 

This area is a fantastic place for beginning climbers. With TR access trivial and a ton of routes right next to each other, N. Table Mt. gets packed on spring and fall weekends. There are a number of moderate routes on Brown Cloud Wall, and farther west are some more strenuous sport routes.

Note: watch out for rattlesnakes; they're around, so don't do anything stupid.

Be advised that whatever guidebook you use, it's sometimes very frustrating to find the route that you're looking for; don't hesitate to ask other people around about what route they're doing. Top rope access is via an easy trail at the far right side of this area or via a steep class 4 chimney scramble between Interface and Protection from The Virus (in the big cove in the middle of this area).

Addendum: also note that as this area has become popular, a number of the more popular routes have gotten polished due to repeated ascents to the point where the old ratings may feel sandbagged.


Getting There 

Lying at the east side of N. Table Mountain, and the first area one comes to after the brisk hike, this area is usually popular. It starts at the east side of the main wall at Table. Just to its right is an obvious top rope access trail that passes just by the routes designated above as "Far Right - Around the Corner."


Caution 

Note, this section is particularly prone to loose rocks above the routes which can be knocked down upon the unsuspecting below.


L->R: 

A. Wholly Holey, 8, 1p, bolts.
B. Axis of Weasels, 7, 1p, 50', gear.
C. Iraqi Road, 6, 1p, 50', gear.
D. Brown Cloud Arete, 10-, 1p, 50', bolts.
E. Retro-Crack, 9+, 1p, 60', gear.
F. Pee on Dee, 8+, 1p, 40', bolts.
G. Windy Days, 8-, 1p, bolts.
H. Pee on Me, 6, 1p, 45', bolts & gear.
I. chimney, 1p, gear.
J. Solo Route aka Life Raft, 11-, 1p, 25', boulder or TR.
K. Punkin Puss & Mushmouse aka Bow of the Titanic, 10-, 1p, 45', bolts.
L. Deck Chairs on the Titanic, 9+, 1p, 50', bolts.
M. Killian's Dead, 6, 1p, 50', gear.
N. John Adam's Adams Apple, 7+, 1p, 50', gear.
O. The Ark, 6, 1p, 50', gear.
P. Bullet the Brown Cloud, 11, 1p, 50', bolts.
Q. Ypsilon, 9- or 10, 1p, 35', gear.
R. Volobee (aka Jolobee), 11- PG-13, 1p, 50', bolts.
S. Wide crack, 7, 1p, 35', gear or TR.
T. Unknown Crack, 10+, 1p, 45', gear.
U1. Tenacious, 10-, 1p, 50', bolts.
U2. variation, 10+, 1p.
V. Crack (2 left of Interface), 8-, 1p, 40', gear.
W. Unknown left of Left Slab, 7+, 1p, 40', gear.
var to X. Interface Arete, 8, 1p, 40', TR.
Y. Interface, 8, 1p, 40', bolts.
Z. Right of Interface, 8 R, 1p, 40', gear or TR.
AA. Crack, 9-, 1p, 25', gear.
BB. Bolted Line, 10+, 1p, 25', bolts +/- gear.

3rd class gully

CC. Chimney, 6, 1p, 25', gear.
DD. Tiny Pillar, 10+, 1p, 25', TR.
DD. Tiny Face, 10-, 1p, 25', TR.
EE. Anti-viral, 7 PG-13, 1p, 30', gear.
FF. Protection from the Virus, 10, 1p, 45', bolts.
GG. Lemons, Limes, and Tangerines, 8+, 1p, 45', bolts.
HH. Big Dihedral, 8, 1p, 50', gear.
II. Top Rope Face (aka Rising Passion), 10+, 1p, 40', bolts.
JJ. Baggins' Blunt Arete, 8, 1p, 45', gear or TR.
KK. Thick Crust, 7, 1p, 50', gear.
LL1. Variation to the Virus, 9, 1p, 45', bolts & gear.
LL2. The Virus, 12-, 1p, 40', bolts.
MM. Unknown Crack (Right of The Virus), 10-, 1p, 45', gear.
NN. Unknown Route, 11+, 1p, 45', bolts.
OO. New River Gorge Homesick Blues, 10-, 1p, 30', bolts.
PP. Kid's Climb, 10-, 1p, 50', bolts.
QQ. Crack, 6, 1p, 50', gear.
RR. Thelma, 8-, 1p, 35', bolts.
SS. Louise, 8, 1p, 35', bolts.
TT. Louise Arete, 10-, 1p, 35', TR.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Brown Cloud Rocks:
Killian's Dead   5.6     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Iraqi Road   5.6     Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Big Dihedral   5.8     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Old Roof Route aka Lemons, Limes, and Tangerines   5.8+     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Deck Chairs on the Titanic   5.9+     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Unknown Crack (Right of The Virus)   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Brown Cloud Arête   5.10b     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Solo Route aka Life Raft   5.11a     TR, 1 pitch, 25 feet   
Bullet The Brown Cloud   5.11a/b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Unknown Route   5.11c/d     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Browse More Classics in Brown Cloud Rocks

Featured Route For Brown Cloud Rocks
At the first clip.

Kid's Climb 5.9  CO : Golden : ... : Brown Cloud Rocks
This route lies at the east end of brown cloud, just as the cliffs turn the corner. Start up a crack, then move left at a ledge and follow the 3 bolts up. The face moves are committing. Have fun!...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of Brown Cloud Rocks Slideshow Add Photo

BETA PHOTO
This is an old topo from 1992. If approaching from the east on Hwy 58, then take the Boyd Street Exit.  After two stop signs, head uphill.  Look for Peery Parkway at the top of the Boyd St hill. The climber's Parking is at the east end of Peery Pkwy.  <br /> <br />Hike the climber's trail (red) to the main cliff band.  There is a right fork near the top that will take you over to Kid's Climb.  Or use the main trail all the way up, turn right (east) at the cliff, and pass a few routes to get to the Deck Chairs alcove.

This is an old topo from 1992. If approaching from...

Old drawing from '92.  I added any new stuff in greeen.

Old drawing from '92. I added any new stuff in gr...

Info on this sector.

Info on this sector.


Comments on Brown Cloud Rocks Add Comment
Show which comments
By Hill
Aug 6, 2003

If you setting up a top rope here, as the description suggests, use extreme caution with all the loose rock near the edge of the cliff. My most near death experience rock climbing was being hit in the back by a rock knocked off the top of Table Mesa by someone setting up a top rope. A few inches in a different direction and that would have split my skull wide open. I know of other close calls at Table Mesa resulting from similar circumstances. Keep your helmet on, particularly if people are above you.

Have Fun!!

By Ken Trout
From: Golden, CO
Dec 23, 2007

Marsha and I just fixed up several climbs from our past; Deck Chairs, Kid's Climb, and Interface with winch hooks from Home Depot. Interface has more pro too.