The Cathedral Spires are closed from March 1 to July 31 for raptor nesting.
Shane Zentner on pitch one.
Description
The Dome's historic ultra classic. There is mandatory excitement around the roof on the 2nd pitch (as described here) - no way to dog this one. Start near the center of the face at an obvious easy crack.
P1: Climb the crack (5.5, gear) to its top [optional belay], then friction up to join Topographical Oceans for the first three bolts of its second pitch (5.9). Veer left, then climb up and right to a belay at an arch.
P2: Climb right around the arch-roof (5.9) with courage, then follow a ramp up and left to a belay above the arch.
P3: Climb up past a bolt to an overlap, and turn it on the right (5.6) or left (5.9), and continue up left to a belay.
P4: Move left on a ramp to a wide-ish crack, climb it (5.8) to the easy summit slabs.
When we did this route, we rapped to the climbers left instead of walking off. 2-3? raps from bolt anchors. The belay bolts on the route after P2 are heinous so we set an awkward belay off a couple cams (.75 and 1 camalot) in the crack just below it.
I linked pitches one and two together. Pitch two was a bit dicey because of the runouts on old bolts. My partner led the third and fifth pitch. We rapped from the top on old belay stations that are equipped with dangerous bolts. I would recommend walking down rather than rapping, as the bolts on this rock are not the greatest.
I climbed Bishop's Jaggers on Labor Day in 2001. I was swarmed by bees twice on the traditional first pitch (half of the first pitch from the description.)
Though it makes for a good story, and the bees were only low on the route (before the difficult climbing), it's still a useful cautionary tale, particularly for those who react more strongly than I do to bee stings.
Fun climb but be ready to really run it out. If your not completely confident on 5.9 South Platte (!) slab then I would not recommend this route at all. The bolts on the entire climb were horrible at best. I wouldn't trust a fall on those rusty old things or even hang off them for that matter. Also the roof pitch (2nd, if you link 1 and 2), is pretty tricky. Not particularly hard moves, but the route finding for me was a real challenge. Go for the crack in the roof strait up from the belay. Have fun and be safe. Also be ready for a real haul up there, especially if you miss the right trail!!!!
This climb (along with the Dome and the Cathedral Spires )is closed from March 1 to July 31 and has been for years. Its still posted as closed on the Access Fund site. Please don't climb here during this time frame.
P.S. If someone has info that it opened early - please post it!
I climbed Topographical Oceans several weeks ago and climbed past the second pitch belay station for Bishops Jaggers. One of the bolt's button head is cracked, the hanger spins easily, and the overall condition of the bolts is not good. Don't belay here-belay farther along or belay somewhere under the roof(one might consider belaying from the station that occupies the end of pitch two of Topo). The above belay station is a death trap.
Did Bishop's Jaggers last week. Nice shiny new bolts, the work is appreciated. There appeared to be a new rappel route bolted to the left so we attempted to rap after four pitches. The first rap (ends above the big roof to the L of the 3rd belay) came up no less than 5 feet short with a single 60m rope! I say come on now, are we installing 70m rap stations at a long-established crag? This is dangerous, someone's going to rap off the end of their lines. Be careful!
By Beached Nuts From: Bermuda bitches Sep 11, 2006
Interesting if scary variation on pitch 3? (the pitch after the traverse). Just climb straight up the perfect water streak. It's the natural line and is nice. I got a cam in about 10 feet up from the belay and my belayer yelled "at the middle" about 20 feet before I got to a bolt (where the water streak converged with the actual route).
It's cool, but beware, it might be harder than the actual route and definitely a don't fall scenario. It's been done though, don't bolt it.
Climbed it last week. THANKS to ASCA for all the nice new bolts. That pic of the old one is scary!!
By Allen Hill From: FIve Points, Colorado and Pine Jun 5, 2007
I'm perplexed that the first ascent party is not listed here. Duncan Ferguson with either or Chris Reveley /Jim Walsh. A Platte classic if not a Colorado must do.