Dark Star lies in the chimney system to the right of the Flying Buttress on Mt. Meeker. Its hard to see the route until you are right underneath it.
Hike up snow slopes, to the right of the Flying buttess. These are obvious in the attached picture. Head toward the deep recess. Climb a short, difficult section to get to the base of a chimney. Climb it. The first time I climbed this pitch it was filled-up with ice, turning it into an offwidth with great sticks in the back. The second time I climbed this pitch, there was not as much ice and the climbing was a bit more mixed and difficult. An excellent pitch.
Climb up the easier snow/ice gully for a full rope length. Continue up the steepening gully until you are blocked by overhanging rock. Figure out a way to get past this section, usually by climbing out left. Also an interesting pitch.
I am thinking about doing this climb in early May. What kind of rock pro would be ideal for this climb. Tell me more if can remember more about Darkstar.
In as of 7/11/04. 3 parties on route today. More ice than mixed, but the ice was of variable quality. Melting fast!!!! We found 4 pitches of climbing. Steepening snow fields (soloed) lead to two choices: the left line is steeper and more direct, while a line to the right is hidden behind a ridgeline, but I am guessing it is significantly easier, as we were passed by another party who opted for the right line. We took the left line, Dark Star Direct.
P1. Climb the narrow gully system which consists of easier sections of snow interspersed with steeper steps of ice and mixed.
P2. We only had 50 m ropes, so had to cut the first pitch shorter. With 60 m you could finish the steep gully (or by starting the first belay higher). Surmount the steep step/roof using mixed techniques and end on a large snowfield. The option of skipping the first pitch by going right, rejoins the route here. Climb easy snow up to the bottom of a flared chimney system.
P3. Climb the chimney on great ice. Set a belay when you run out of rope and/or find a good belay.
P4. Continue up the chimney past a chockstone on the right, up, and past another on the left (crux).
Overall, we thought the route went at about AI3, M4. Bring more rock than ice gear. A set of nuts, a few cams (4), a few pins, and 2-3 ice screws would suffice.
By Julian Smith From: Colorado Springs, CO Jul 12, 2004
David has some very good comments regarding Dark Star. There is an action photo posted that shows the right-hand start as opposed to the left-hand start. The right-hand variation is pretty easy, maybe WI-2 with a mixed move or 2. How hard is the left-hand start, Dark Star Direct?
Nice photos! Julian, you must have been the party that passed us. I would say the left-hand start goes at about AI3-, M4. I am pretty inexperienced with this whole M-climbing biz, though, so not too familiar with ratings. The crux of this pitch is definitely the M and not the AI. Earlier in the day/week it might have held more ice, as it appears from the photo posted by Rick. By the time I was on it, one section was very mixed and difficult for me.
I am thinking of climbing this sometime at the end of Sept into October. Does anyone know how the conditions are this time of year or how they are now?
scott vanderplaats here. i just climbed this route last saturday and i don't think what you have pictured here is darkstar. i believe these pics are of the route right chimney. darkstar climbs a chimney line to the right of this colour, it is hidden from view until you are up close to the base. of coarse the name of the route doesn't relly matter, it wa fun whatever you call it. i would like to add though, i think the rating on this page is a little high. my partner jarret and i climbed the so called 'darkstar direct' and i think its closer to m4-. the route was in good condition.
I soloed Right Chimney on Mount Meeker on 5/29. This route has a thorough write up on www.climbingboulder.com but is wrongly named and rated as Dark Star, everything else in the discription is correct.
Conditions were thin but adequate for great climbing. The direct start was firm snow and rock, then the upper section had ice in the back. Crux moves were mostly rock and snow around [chockstones]. There was no visible feeder snow above the route, so I wouldn't expect the ice to get much thicker, better to do it soon rather then wait for better conditions. The descent was a blast as it was possible to slide from The Loft almost all the way to Chasm Meadow.
Many parties climbed Dreamweaver that day and mentioned very nice conditions. About thirty feet of ice split between two sections. Thought I only saw it from afar, Martha looked to be mostly melted out, while the real Dark Star was just rock and snow mushrooms.
Long's Peak/Mt. Meeker Cirque
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