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Alpine Rock


2 people found this page useful
Submitted By: Leo Paik on Aug 11, 2005
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
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Longs Peak Diamond and boulderfield.
Photo by Blit...



Description 

This "area" is for alpine rock climbing in Colorado. Alpine is probably the true "Mountain" Project terrain. These routes truly lie in the mountains. This is the terrain of the alpinist, the all-arounder. Generally here, you must be comfortable in whatever the environment will throw at you.

Alpine is the home of the marmots and pikas in the warmer months. In the colder months, this is the land of the frozen. Scattered here is the terrain in which weather, exposure, season, loose rock, ice, snow, route-finding, lightning, precipitation, and altitude can dramatically affect one's experience. All these climbs involve heights of at least 8,000 ft. With these factors comes increased risks but potential for increased rewards and memories that can last a lifetime.


Getting There 

These climbs cover the state from the Crestones, the Sangre de Cristos, the Mosquito Range, the Collegiates, the Sawatch, the San Juans, the Gores, the Front Range, the Elks, the Indian Peaks, the Mummy Range, the Never Summer Mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park or whatever range you wish to include. Look high and you will find them. You will drive but then you will hike, since most all of these will require some extended approaches. Some will require overnight trips. Nearly all will have season considerations for the majority of climbers.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Alpine Rock:
The Notch Couloir   Mod. Snow     Trad, Snow, Alpine, Grade III   Long's Peak : Upper East Face
Little Bear-Blanca Traverse   5.0     Trad, Alpine   Blanca Peak
Kiener's Route   5.3 Easy Snow     Trad, Snow, Alpine, Grade II   Long's Peak : Upper East Face
Wham Ridge   5.4 R     Trad, Alpine, 10 pitches, 2000 feet, Grade III   Vestal Peak
North Ridge   5.6     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, Grade II   Glacier Gorge : Spearhead
Ellingwood Ledges   5.7     Trad, Alpine, Grade III   The Crestones
South Face   5.8     Trad, Alpine, 8 pitches, Grade III   RMNP - Rock : Petit Grepon
Culp-Bossier   5.8+     Trad, Alpine, 8 pitches, Grade III   RMNP - Rock : Hallett Peak
The Flying Buttress   5.9     Trad, Alpine, 6 pitches, Grade III   RMNP - Rock : Mt. Meeker
Syke's Sickle   5.9+     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, 900 feet, Grade III   Glacier Gorge : Spearhead
Casual Route   5.10a     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, Grade IV   Long's Peak : The Diamond
The Barb   5.10-     Trad, Alpine, 9 pitches, Grade III   Glacier Gorge : Spearhead
Directissima   5.10b     Trad, Alpine, 4 pitches, Grade III   Long's Peak : Chasm View Wall
Days of Heaven   5.10d     Trad, Grade II   Fern Canyon Rocks : Rock Of Ages
Birds of Fire   5.11a R     Trad, Sport, Alpine, Grade IV   Glacier Gorge : Chiefshead Northwest Face
Pervertical Sanctuary   5.11a     Trad, Alpine, 6 pitches, Grade IV   Long's Peak : The Diamond
Yellow Wall   5.11b R     Trad, Alpine, 8 pitches, 1000 feet   Long's Peak : The Diamond
D7   5.11     Trad, Alpine, Grade IV   Long's Peak : The Diamond
Ariana   5.12a     Trad, Alpine, 6 pitches, Grade IV   Long's Peak : The Diamond
The Wasp   5.13a     Trad, 1 pitch, 95 feet   Fern Canyon Rocks : Rock Of Ages
Browse More Classics in Alpine Rock

Featured Route For Alpine Rock
Laughing at the runout before the final roofs.

Hesse-Ferguson 5.9 R  CO : Alpine Rock : ... : Hallett Peak
This is my favorite route on Hallett Peak. It is demanding both physically and mentally. The run-outs epitomize what climbing on Hallett Peak is all about, and it has some burly, physical cruxes. It shares the same start as the Love Route and the Englishman's Route. As with all routes on Hallett Peak, route finding and intricate gear placing skills are important. See the big white spot with the obvious roof at the top in the...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of Alpine Rock Slideshow Add Photo
I was going to take a shot of Ken on the summit, he said, "you might want to take a shot of what's behind you."  These guys were right on top of us.

I was going to take a shot of Ken on the summit, h...

Quite the gathering of juveniles.<br />

Quite the gathering of juveniles.


Kelso summit goat.

Kelso summit goat.

Clearing snowstorm in the Grenadiers.

Clearing snowstorm in the Grenadiers.

Mt. goats.

Mt. goats.

One of a herd of mountain goats at the base of the east wall @ a-basin

One of a herd of mountain goats at the base of the...

Hi there guys!

Hi there guys!