East Face/First Flatironette

The East Face of the First Flatironette is generally climbable. Why is there only one route on this broad slab? Well, there could be dozens, but the climbing is all generally the same, and wandering a little here and there keeps the general difficulty at about 5.2. The only real difference from one section to another is how continuous the climb might be or how many trees and gullies you might pass along the way. Rossiter suggests going up from the low, left-hand edge of the rock past a few gullies to the most continuous and solid part of the face. This is perhaps 100 feet up and right of the very base. I agree that the climbing from this point is great. Climb up and onward, trending slightly left past flakes, cracks, and pockets for a few pitches to reach the summit.

This is a fine climb at its grade and perhaps the best Flatirons introduction to slower parties and less confident leaders. Like any Flatiron, there are to be some runouts, but the lack of difficulty and frequent secure rests will likely keep even a skittish leader's head cool.

Descend by scrambling the ridgeline up top to a point where you can step, hop, or scramble off to the west. Next, walk north past a gully, past The Spy, and continue North down a hill until you reach a well-traveled East/West Trail. Head East on this trail to gain the cliff base again. This trail is pretty good and should take only 5-10 minutes.