From mid-May through October, the hillside below the left side of Boulder Slips is covered in poison ivy. It is difficult to avoid no matter how you approach the climbs. Better to climb somewhere else during this time. Routes on the center and right side of Boulder Slips are not affected.
From November to early May, the poison ivy is dormant, but watch out for the plants with little light-green berries -- these are poison ivy bushes. Avoid them and you should be OK to climb on the left side of Boulder Slips at those times.
BETA PHOTO: Routes on the left side of Boulder Slips.
Description
Edges and Ledges is a fun new sport route on the left side of Boulder Slips. It climbs a steep face about 30' left of Minutia. It's well-bolted, and a great lead for someone breaking into 5.8 sport.
Start at the same place as for Minutia, at the base of a slab on the left side of Boulder Slips, about 100' above the road.
Climb an easy slab up to the steep face. Stay away from the gully on the left, which has some loose rock. Clip the first bolt, and work up the face, with many good edges and ledges, past 8 bolts to a nice ledge at the top. Lower 80' back to the start. Avoid the loose gully on the left when lowering -- stay on the slab to the right.
Location
On the left side of Boulder Slips, about 100' above the road, at the base of a slab.
In my opinion, this route is going to be very popular and deservedly so. It is very nicely and safely bolted for the newer 5.8 leader, easy approach, and great climbing! Nice and steep for a moderate with fun moves along the way.
Excellent route at the grade. Steep jug-hauling all the way to the anchors. The crux is getting to the base of the route without touching the Poison Ivy. It's everywhere.
The approach is very loose directly at the base of this route. My partner knocked a few VERY large rocks down almost all the way to the road when he alighted upon terra not so firma after sending this glorious route. Be careful.
When you're climbing or descending from this route, stay out of the loose gully on the left, and stay on the slab to the right. There are a number of loose rocks in and left of the gully that are too big to trundle, since they might go all the way to the road. Please do your best to avoid them.
By Rebecca From: Broomfield, CO Apr 29, 2009 rating: 5.8
This is a great fun route! Positive holds and nice bolt placements make for a nice lead. Some of the really loose rock in the gully to the left came down on us today, although not quite down to the road and it cleared out the gully a bit, but it's still pretty bad, so a great idea to avoid it, as previously mentioned. Since the area is still relatively new, there was some loose rock falling as we were climbing - just be aware.
For a moderate route, it doesn't get much better than this! The spacing between bolts will be comforting for a leader new to the grade and the anchor set-up is really convenient for quick on-and-off. Like Gary said, I suspect this route is going to be quite popular. One of your better efforts, Ron, et al!
RSS Feed
Slideshow
