Ptarmigan Towers  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  3,337. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  L. Hamilton on May 10, 2003 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 64° | 37° 63° | 39° 70° | 46° 72° | 48° 72° | 45°

BETA PHOTO: East face of Ptarmigan Tower 4. The NE Corner rou...

Description 

The 800-foot east faces of the Ptarmigan Towers, rising above Lake Nanita on the west side of the park, present an impressive Notchtop-like architecture. The long hike in, and the less-traveled routes, might provide a higher adventure level here than on the more popular east-side cliffs.

Getting There 

From Grand Lake (8,400') take the North Inlet Trail past Lake Nokoni to Lake Nanita (9.3 miles, 10,800'). The towers form the lake's scenic background. They are numbered 1 to 5, from right to left. Tower 3 is comparatively minor. Towers 2, 4 and 5 have the most substantial faces, with room for difficult routes.

Featured Route For Ptarmigan Towers

Tundra Turkey Crack 5.8  CO : Alpine Rock : ... : Ptarmigan Towers

This minor three-pitch climb makes a steep and enjoyable rest-day excursion, for parties camping at Lake Nanita.To the right of the low point of the 2-4 gully is a deep, grubby-looking chimney/gully. On the vertical wall to the right of this feature is a prominent 300-foot jam crack, which diagonals slightly leftwards until it intersects the broken rock of the Sunshine Ledges route about a third of the way up the left side of Tower 2. The base of this crack is gained by climbing up and right f...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

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BETA PHOTO: Lower east face of Ptarmigan Tower 2. Tundra Turk...

Beautifully camouflaged, Ptarmigan. Photo by Blitz...