Fluorescent Gray 5.11c R
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| Type: | Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet |
| Consensus: | 5.11c [details] |
| FA: | Bret Ruckman and Tim Coats, 1989 |
| Submitted By: | Steve Annecone on Jan 10, 2004 |
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Near the crux traverse. Photo by Ico.
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The following crags are typically closed 1 February to 31 July:
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Isolation Rock
Sunset Wall
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The Matron
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Details.
In addition, Mallory Cave, Harmon Cave, and Seal View Cave are permanently closed to human use to reduce the chance of introducing white-nose syndrome.
This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project.
You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.
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Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment
Flatirons Climbing CouncilPreserving climbing access in the Flatirons
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Description This route is located just above the huge gap in the East Ridge. It follows a beautiful face just right of a jagged, left-leaning arete.
Start with the burley, slightly overhanging hand and finger crack in a gully. A few 5.10 moves right off the deck lead to a thin, reachy 11b section (lower crux). Continue up to a broken ledge with a small tree below the first bolt.
Gear isn't great at the ledge, I slung a horn but some tricky nut placements may also work to protect the moves up to the first bolt. I used the "s" rating to represent the balancy 5.9+ or 10 moves to get to the first bolt, as a fall here would probably land you on a ledge.
Once at the first bolt, follow a line of bolts up and left through a beautiful section of steep rock. The rest of the route from here is fairly sustained, with many 5.10 and 5.11 moves throughout. Lots of tricky traversing moves with sometimes hard to see holds, groping reaches out to the arete, and general funkiness. Although fairly well bolted, falls at some of the hard moves would result in some high angular momentum whippers due to the traversing nature of the route.
The crux was probably between the 3rd and 4th bolt, although another 11b or c section awaits out near the arete at the 6th bolt. The climbing eases off to 5.9 or 5.10- for the last 15 feet to the hidden anchor up and right of the final scooped out face. Absolutely excellent, sustained climb with great position and exposure most of the way! Rappel 90 or 95 feet from the 2-bolt anchor. The webbing is pretty mankey and not equal-tensioned, and the rap rings are a little weathered. Some new webbing and rings would be nice.
Protection Nuts and camming devices up to 1 or 2 inches are needed for the initial steep crack. Once up to the first of 8 bolts, quickdraws will suffice from there.
| Comments on Fluorescent Gray |
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By Steve Annecone
From: boulder
Aug 8, 2004
| Correction to the above and Gear Beta: the crux is actually just past the 4th bolt, traversing left to the arete. Also, the distance between the 2nd and 3rd bolts makes it a bit spicy, but a #3 RP or similar with a long sling can reduce the spice somewhat. |
By Joe Collins
Oct 10, 2007
rating: 5.11+ PG13
| This is one of the best face climbs in the Boulder area. Reminiscent of the Eldo classic Aerospace. |
By Josh Gross
Nov 24, 2008
| Great Route, a good route to be rebolted soon! Nice plaque of rock with some cool moves up high. |
By Aaron Martinuzzi
Sep 24, 2009
| The Haas Flatirons guide notes that the name comes from one of the first ascensionists, Bret Ruckman, who was colorblind, describing the bright lichen on/around the route. |
By ben rosenberg
Oct 5, 2009
| We replaced the mess of tat on the anchors this weekend. However, we didn't have enough cord to do a great job. Its safe, but maybe the next one on this route can do a little better.
Also, this route really needs to be rebolted, it makes what would be fun climbing needlessly spicy. If someone with a drill and the requisite experience wants to do this I would be happy to help out.
Please contact me through this site. |
By Pinklebear
Aug 20, 2010
| All hardware, anchors included, updated to half-inch stainless steel bolts and hangers as of August 2010. The anchors are now slightly lower and right to facilitate lowering, but you still need to top out around the lip to clip them.
Many thanks to OSMP, the Access Fund, the Flatirons Climbing Council, and Climbing Magazine's ARI program for making such bolt-work in the Flatirons possible.
Enjoy! This is an amazing pitch. I would peg the rating at 5.11-see: as in, "See, here's another 5.11 crux!" |
By Phil Lauffen
From: Louyuppie
Sep 26, 2011
| Great climb. The combination of powerful arete pulls and delicate footwork make this a fun climb. It feels a little heady as you have to make hard moves a ways above bolts, and reaching the first bolt is tough. The beginning crack is burly, punch through it for the best chance of success.
Thank you for updating the bolts! |
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