I first found this small highball bouldering sanctuary out on a bushwhack after passing by the Stumbling Block/Bumbling Stock formations. What I have begun calling Postcolonial Crag is a more of a craglet, a short sample of cliff band with perhaps 50 feet along the ground of climbable rock. Routes here are at the grey area between short routes, high boulder problems. Rock quality ranges from perfect, hard, smooth all the way to horribly crumbly and unreliable in close mutual proximity. Landings range from rather clean and soft to blood-curdling death.
Overall though these extremes are reconciled into a very pleasant short cliff with rock and features reminiscent of the Stumbling Block. Not 100% bullet rock, but great where it's good, and an abundance interesting features, offset by a perplexing lack of features in spots, creates problems(and projects) that inspire unorthodox movement and tactics.
For whatever matters of style and ethics are concerned, I have always confronted this crag holding true to my notion of ground-up adventure bouldering being the purest, simplest, most rewarding style of climbing there is. This decision also arose out of logistical concerns. The routes here are short enough that bringing rope and gear will likely make the routes feel anti-climactic and not worth the approach. I would plead that any further attention at Postcolonial not involve the placement of any protection bolts and most top rope situations should be accomodated by gear placements up top.
There are other projects remaining to be sent here, beyond what I have done. I have posted one project, the Full Fathom Five arete problem. Both L of the arete and R of Hagseed there is potential for harder boulder problems. The L end of the crag has a small roof feature with plenty of chossy rock that I have hardly cleaned up. Prying off the blantant loose holds and cleaning up the rest could yield a good steep problem. I backed off developing over here, because there are several bushes growing there that I didn't want to exterminate unless I knew there was a problem worth a damn. Also I'm pretty sure a bear sleeps there sometimes. Bear scat's a dead giveaway like that.
Postcolonial Crag is high on a hillside upcanyon of the Stumbling Block area. Parking is in a large dirt pullout between mile markers 270 and 269 1/2. The pullout is on the river side of the road, directly across the street from a stand of three or four trees on the slope side. Traffic visibility is limited when making the crossing BACK to your car at the end of your day.
From parking, the crag is visible directly uphill. A pine and a small rocky outcrop are in the foreground viewed from the parking area. I recommend approaching first to the right of that little outcrop then cutting back left to a subtle ridge that leads up to the left end of Postcolonial.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Postcolonial Crag:
Full Fathom Five, as I've been calling it in my own head so far, is without a doubt the grand prize of Postcolonial Crag. During early- and late-day light the two faces forming the arete will be accentuated with vivid contrast. I have climbed to about half way. There are hard moves all over it. Since this route is a project as yet, the grade posted here is a projection based on what I've climbed and visual inspection of above....[more]Browse More Classics in CO
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