Home - Destinations - People - Partners - Forum - Photos - What's New
 ADVANCED
Brown Cloud Rocks

Show routes:
Select route...
Axis of Weasels 
Big Dihedral 
Brown Cloud Arête 
Bullet The Brown Cloud 
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 on Dee 
Protection From the Virus 
Punkin Puss & Mushmouse 
Retro-Crack 
Tenacious 
Thelma 
Thick Crust 
Unnamed Face 
Variation to The Virus 
Virus, The 
Volobee (aka Jolobee) 
Windy Days 


Brown Cloud Rocks


1 person found this page useful
Submitted By: Greg Robertson on Jan 1, 2001
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Latitude: 39.7683  Longitude: -105.2180 
Aerial photo/map | Weather
Views: 26,191 page views

Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event 

  Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!

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 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).


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. 8+, 1p, bolts.
B. Iraqi Road, 6, 1p, 50', gear.
C. Axis of Weasels, 7, 1p, 50', gear.
D. Brown Cloud Arete, 10-, 1p, bolts.
E. Retro-Crack, 9+, 1p, 60', gear.
F. Pee on Dee, 8+, 1p, bolts.
G. Windy Days, 8-, 1p, bolts.
H. chimney, 1p, gear.
I. Punkin Puss & Mushmouse, 7, 1p, bolts.
J. Deck Chairs on the Titanic, 9+, 1p, 60', bolts.
K. Killian's Dead, 6, 1p, gear.
L. John Adam's Adams Apple, 7+, 1p, gear.
M. Bullet the Brown Cloud, 11, 1p, 50', bolts.
N. route
O. Volobee (aka Jolobee), 11- PG-13, 1p, 50', bolts.
P1. Tenacious, 10-, 1p, 50', bolts.
P2. variation, 10+, 1p.
Q. Interface, 8, 1p, 40', bolts.
R. face, 7, 1p, gear or TR.
S. Protection from the Virus, 10, 1p, 45', bolts.
T. Lemons, Limes, and Tangerines, 8+, 1p, 45', bolts.
U. Big Dihedral, 8, 1p, 50', gear.
V. Unnamed Face, 10+, 1p, 40', bolts.
W. Thick Crust, 7, 1p, 50', gear.
X1. Variation to the Virus, 9, 1p, 45', bolts & gear.
X2. The Virus, 12-, 1p, 40', bolts.
Y. New River Gorge Homesick Blues, 10 R, 1p, bolts & gear.
Z. Kid's Climb, 10-, 1p, 50', bolts.
AA. Thelma, 8-, 1p, 35', bolts.
BB. Louise, 8, 1p, 35', bolts.
CC. 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   
Axis of Weasels   5.7     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   
New River Gorge Homesick Blues   5.9+ R     Sport, 1 pitch   
Deck Chairs on the Titanic   5.9+     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 60 feet   
Brown Cloud Arête   5.10b     Sport, TR, 1 pitch   
Bullet The Brown Cloud   5.11a/b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Browse More Classics in Brown Cloud Rocks

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...


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.