Flying Flatiron Rock Climbing

Well... it's definitely a big slab like the other Flatirons, but perhaps a bit more tree spotted. Typical Flatiron rock, pretty good friction most places but, some spots seemed a little more slick. That was partially due to more lichen, as it is remote and less climbed, and there also is some different seams of rock in places. There is a little more oportunity to place good old nuts in this rock, however we climbed it with just tri-cams and cams, more than we needed too. Climbing is 5.4 - 5.5 most of the way, don't weigh yourself down with a huge rack. 5-6 small nuts, 4-5 Tri-cams, and 3-4 regular cams up to #2.5 Camalot will be more than sufficient. The two route descriptions in Rossiter's book put the climb at 5.6-5.7. I think you would have to go out of your way to find 5.7 climbing. There are definitely several unexplored or just unwritten routes on this Rock. Summiting the arch is not that difficult, but you decide which pillar! I'll just say that the East pillar has a little more lichen on it than the west (and some of my blood). The best thing about the route is the remoteness. There were no other climbers and we got to see an impressive hawk fairly close as it swooped and hovered looking for prey. The rappell off the west pillar is doable on one 60 meter. Be careful of some large loose rocks near the end of the rappel. Carefully descend the talus slope for a few hundred feet and head in to grab a pint of Colorado Kind. It took us about an hour and twenty from the base of the rappel back to the car.

--- Snip ---P.S. to the editors - your old TA Sean Sherrard will add the specifics of the route we did once the rock gets put up! Feel free to edit if I was too verbose!