Deer Mountain South Side  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  9,000' Page Views:  380. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Leo Paik on Aug 24, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 63° | 39° 75° | 41° 75° | 43° 72° | 45° 73° | 45°

From below.

Description 

This is just the other side of the mountain from Deer Ridge Buttress, but it is entirely different. In reality, this is a lot of rock; however, the general low angle and scruffiness will make most folks pass on this. Still, if you like solitude, the ability to micro-explore, easier grades, and sunnier aspects, there just could be something for you here.

Though rather diminutive in height, there are still a dozen or more chunks of rock here, some of it is up to 2 pitches in height. Folks have been climbing here off and on (probably more off) from at least the 1970s. There is mention in a Fricke 1971 guidebook about this rock, "the low cliffs on its south side [S side of Deer Mtn] apparently offer only indifferent climbing." Also, Gillett mentions it both in the back of his 1st edition guidebook for RMNP and on p. 274 of his fine RMNP, Estes Park Valley guidebook. Until there are more routes submitted, we'll leave these under this one area.

From a brief explore, the best rock may be on the far right two crags. I have photos of the other bits of rock up here, but they weren't too photogenic. If you want to see them / are crazy enough to go up there, let me know, and I can email them to you.

The summit of Deer Mt. is about 10,000'.

This may be subject to closures for raptors.

L->R:

A.
B. Crack, 9.
C. SSE Ridge, 2, 2p, 420', gear.

D. Common Potoo, 5, 1p, 150', gear.
E. Lonesome George, 7, 1p, 130', gear.

Getting There 

The quickest way is likely to drive into the Beaver Meadows entrance, go straight past the turnoff for Bear Lake Rd., continue up Trail Ridge until you are directly below the buttresses. Follow game trails up. It's probably 800-1000' of elevation gain, but it is fairly direct.

The Classics

Featured Route For Deer Mountain South Side

Common Potoo 5.5  CO : Estes Park Valley : Deer Mountain South Side

This is a short, fun, juggy, visually unimpressive line. It is something you can add on if you do the SSE on the buttress just to the west as you descend back to your gear. 1.6 stars.Below the gully that splits this crag, there is a slightly bigger boulder. Climb on jugs that just keep coming. The gear takes a bit of time to find. You, however, will have great stances for every placement. Aim for just right of a tiny roof ~100' up. You can belay where the angle eases off ~120' up or on th...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Deer Mountain South Side Slideshow

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A dihedral on the west face, to the left of SSE Ri...

Wow, the hummingbirds sit still around here.