Grand Mesa  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  10,000' Lat, Long:  39.0081, -108.1924 Map Page Views:  11,669. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Douglas Lossner on Nov 24, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

D. Lossner on Mrs. Mesa.

Description 

This area is on the western slope of Colorado.

There are two ice lines that form up, one in the Whitewater Creek drainage and one in the Coal Creek drainage off this 10,000 foot mesa.

One route, Mrs. Mesa, is a 175 foot ice climb. It is WI5/6+ depending on time of year, line, and if you lead it or not. It is Grade I to IV depending on if you get to it before Lands End road closes and you can drive to within 100 feet of the rappel in, or you ski 17 miles round trip from CO Highway 65, or you take a snowmobile to within 100 feet of the rappel. Mrs. Mesa forms up every year and gets really fat mid winter.

The other route, Mr. Mesa is a two pitch 200 foot WI5+/6. The rock on this beast starts overhanging at the top making this climb 200 feet of steep vertical to overhanging ice. It rarely forms up, only one time in the 13 years I've been doing yearly trips on The Mesa. Oct. 2005. This climb is formed by irrigation water and if there is not a big freeze by mid-October, he does not form. To my knowledge, there has only been one ascent on this jewel. Approach very similar to Mrs. Mesa.

Getting There 

Grand Mesa is the large, 10,000 foot, mesa located mostly to the east of Grand Junction. It is principally accessed of I-70 going south on CO Hwy 65.

Mrs. Mesa is located right where Coal Creek drops over the rim of The Mesa, about 2.5 to 3 miles from lands end towards CO Highway 65. Approach by four wheel drive before road closes or is impassable, or ski 17 miles round trip from CO Highway 65, or snow mobile 17 miles round trip from CO Highway 65.

Mr. Mesa is located where Whitewater Creek dumps over the west side of Grand Mesa. Approximately 2 miles from Lands End. This one requires a 3 mile hike (shoes or skis) round trip, even if getting there before road closes. After road closes it will be 22 mile round trip ski from CO Highway 65 and Lands End road, or 22 mile snowmobile trip.

The Classics

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Mrs. Mesa WI5-6  CO : CO Ice & Mixed : Grand Mesa

One long pitch of hard ice.It is WI5/6+ depending on time of year, line, and if you lead it or not. It is Grade I to V depending on if you get to it before Lands End road closes and you can drive to within 100 feet of the rappel in, or you ski 17 miles round trip from highway 65, or you take a snowmobile to within 100 feet of the rappel....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

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Mr. Mesa.