The Foil is a quality spire slightly dwarfed by its huge neighbor to the left, The [Saber]. The rock quality of The Foil can at times be less than superior. However! There are super cool pitches here and there and The Foil also holds one of the best and narrowest summits in the park. Standing room only!
Descent- rap off the back of the summit spire with one 50 or 60m rope into a notch. Then do a easy pitch to the ridge behind The Foil. From there follow the descent gully to the east.
Getting There
Find your way to Sky Pond and hike up the talus towards the Cathedral Spire group. The Foil is the slender spire to the right (east) of The Sabor. The [Rossiter] topo seemed to be pretty accurate for the South Face route 5.9s, and the new [Gillett] guide lists a new route The Poc Club 5.11+.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Foil:
By Bosier Parsons From: Colorado Springs, CO Feb 9, 2005
This spire gets 3 stars for the summit alone. The quality of the South Face route, is probably 2-3 stars. This is a great option if you want to avoid crowds on the Petit. The serious rating is probably accurate, but you get good pro, and then only traverse about 15 feet to easier terrain. Bring some extra webbing for the rappel, just in case.
As I remember, the pitches are all fairly long and are as follows (though its been several years):
1) From up high in the gully, angle in from the right below some steeper rock, and into a long chimney. Face climb and chimney, then belay above a small overhang.
2) Step out right on the south face and face climb up beautiful metamorphic rock, until an obvious and large ledge appear again on your left. Pro can be a little run out, but easy climbing on great rock.
3) Climb a left-facing corner above the ledge to its top where it again joins the south face on your right. From another ledge or stance, climb up a crack in the face to a sloping ledge. The crack continues up at this sloping ledge onto steeper terrain. Place a good cam (#1 camalot ?), then traverse right 15 feet, keeping your feet on the sloping ledge. Gain easier ground on the SE corner of the spire and belay wherever seems best.
4) Climb easy corner systems up the SE corner of the spire, then move back left below the summit block, and obtain the summit by jamming a steep, 4" crack, that goes at about 5.8. This is a glory pitch, to be sure.
5) Rappel, then climb a short, moderate pitch up the north side of the nearby gendarme, across from the Foil. Has anyone ever set up a Tyrolean here?
I also remember the guide book we used seemed pretty accurate.
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