Lats Don't Have Feelings 

Climb is very continuous with a good jug a little above the mid point to take some of the edge off of your lactic burn. There is also a deep mono that you can shake out on. This route deserves 3 stars and is a must do for the grade. Nothing on the route is harder than 11c but the endurance test is what makes it really fun!

*** don't think i've ever seen my lats explode through my skin before*** a must do!!! one of my favorites in the valley... just keep thinking "there's a rest soon i know it" but dont count on it...move fast!!.

Classic! I did this again last weekend and I still think it is one of the nicest 5.11 sport climbs in the front range. Great stone, great continuity, and a building forearm pump the whole way!

I don't know why this has lats in the name. Forearm pump I felt, but it's vertical, so lats, not so much. It's also a really fun 11c-ish route. I also didn't think it was too run out, either. the holds are big thru there, and you won't hit anything if you fall.

Re: above comment...how can it be an onsight on your second burn? Did you keep your eyes closed for the first?

In the immortal words of Hiditaki Sizuki...."First time I climb not so good....second time Onsight Frrrrrash"

This climb has been retrobolted. The manky old cold shuts have been replaced with new hangers, and I believe two new bolts got added. Not sure why there is one about three feet from the anchors though....

New hangers are a start. More bolts might be okay but are not what this route really needs. Since the route has new hangers now, it is even more important to get rid of the old bolts. When the nuts were unsecrewed to put on the new hangers, the old bolts were likley weakened!! I've broken off several 3/8" wedge-bolts while trying to unscrew them with a short wrench.

It's not so hard to do it right at Shelf, thanks to the soft rock. I did a same-hole replacement of the first bolt on Arnold-Arnold years ago. Here is what worked for me. First, I drilled along the top-side of the old bolt with a 3/16" drill bit. Then, tapping the old bolt toward the new void, got it loose enough to pull easy, no crow-barring. Finally, I redrilled the hole to 1/2" and put in a 1/2" x 3" Rawl.

If the hole seems too wide, it is possible to use a 1/2" by 5 & 3/4" Rawl bolt. See my picture of the special bit needed for these long bolts. Flared holes have not been a problem for me at Shelf, but it's good to be ready.

I've been waiting for years for someone else to do the fix. Not the FA guys, they've done a lot for climbers. I've got a borrowed drill and lots the proper hardware, thanks to Kirk Miller. If I get motivated, then I'll update this page.

In the picture topo it shows a additional route going left after the first few bolts and it is called "I Have a Vision" is this corect? I there a reason this marvelous route isn't submitted?

A heads up.... The 3rd bolt and the 5th bolt are pretty bad, particularly the 3rd. From below, you can see a cm or so of the bolt sleeve. If the 3rd pulls (seems like it will sometime soon), decking will happen. If someone has the expertise and equipment, I would be happy to help. Too good a climb to have such shoddy gear on.
Looks like a same hole replacement will not work. The hole is eroded and flared on the bottom side.

Agree about the 3rd clip. I remember being kinda sketched out moving above it because the climbing is sorta tricky there.

Hopefully someone with the knowledge to do it properly (I don't) can go up there soon and replace the bad bolts. As someone else said, this climb is too aesthetic, too classic to have bad gear on it....

Is it just me or does the third clip risk a pretty serious ledge fall if you blow it? Maybe the terrain is easy there? Broken ankles suck.

For me, the 3rd clip was ALWAYS the crux of the route. If the bolt was a foot lower you could clip it from good holds and the best stance. Definitely be careful, as I had a partner blow the clip and come really close to getting busted up on the ledgy terrain below.

Replaced the 3rd bolt on New Year's Eve at night; new year, new hardware. The 3rd bolt was looking a little sketch especially for that soft stone.

The 5th bolt, yes the one that you clip before the "run-out" looks very similar to how the 3rd looked (not as bad), didn't know that when I was there that night. It's on my to do list.

Thanks, Monty!

Thanks, Monty. It looks like you moved the replacement bolt a little lower, so hopefully it'll ease the sketchiness of the clip.

Lats don't have feelings afterall. Not a lats type of climb. Forearms, however, do have feelings and mine had some griping to do about trying this at the end of a cold day.
Nice climbing, but I can't give 4 stars to it.

Super awesome route. If you don't have endurance, this will get pretty pumpy.

Awesome route! My first 11+ route and loved it. Almost got the onsight, but the pump got the best of me going from the final bolt to the anchors. Excellent.

This route is dope! I remember way back to my first trip at Shelf seeing Lats from the Bank campground. It will be one of the first routes that catches your eye from across the canyon. The heavily chalked streak going up the beautiful, red colored face is well worth doing. I would say that if you are a 5.11 climber, then Lats may seem a bit hard and extremely pumpy. If you're a solid 5.12 and up climber, you could easily use this climb as a warmup and it will feel pretty chill. The stone is bullet hard, and although some people think it's polished, I didn't think it is (definitely not Rifle polished). Regardless, this super sweet route is a Shelf Road Mega Classic, and I would say in the top 10 of all routes in the area.

5th and 4th bolts have been replaced. (While the 5th was the one with the rock blown out around it, after seeing how rusted it looked, I went ahead and replaced the 4th as well....)
Big thanks to ASCA for the hardware!!

First 11d onsight! This route seems to favor balancy climbers. Thin feet and committing crimps make this route a Shelf Road classic. Beautiful line.