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Elevation: 6,037 ft
GPS: 39.93119, -105.28395
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Shared By: Leo Paik on Mar 20, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Rockfall Access Effect & Subject to Seasonal Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Closures - lifted DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

This section of the cliff is the right most end of Redgarden Wall. It is arbitrarily cut off after the large, obvious, dihedral system which is called Redguard. We will call this South Buttress.

This section of the cliff is characterized by challenging route finding, slickened rock, and sparse protection options. Perhaps, this is part of that which helped to link the adjective "spicy" with Eldorado Canyon climbing. If close protection is what you require to enjoy climbing, you should climb elsewhere. Routes vary from 30 to 600 feet in this section.

This is an amazing section of the Redgarden Wall when considering the early history of climbing in Eldorado Canyon SP. History emanates from the rock here and some of it is documented in B. Godfrey's & D. Chelton's Climb! Given the crude equipment available in the mid 1950s, it is awe-inspiring to imagine our climbing forefathers wander up these cliff as they did. In 1956, Dick Bird, Dallas Jackson, Cary Huston, and Chuck Murley climbed what had then be considered unclimbable, Redguard, with Dick Bird leading the first pitch, dubbed the Bird walk, and Chuck Murley deciding to give the last pitch "one last go" on their 3rd and finally successful attempt. There is also the story of the amazing Layton Kor in 1957 getting stuck on these walls requiring a rope from Ben Chidlaw to rescue him. Kor & Chidlaw that year followed this by ascending the very runout route, The Bulge. Subsequently, Kor rappelled down for possibly Colorado's first rap-bolted, retrobolt when others encouraged him to make his line safer for the masses. Thank you, Mr. Kor! Genesis, originally climbed with RURPs in 1962 by J. Turner & B. Culp, became one of early Colorado routes trained for specifically, and was freed by the indomitable Jim Collins in 1979 after training to the point of blood blisters for this specific climb (as documented in G. Randall's Vertigo Games.

Savories include: the adventurous Pseudo Sidetrack 5.4 s; The Bulge, 5.7 s; the ground-breaking Redguard, 5.8+ s; the ever-popular Anthill Direct, 5.9 s; the exciting Blackwalk, 5.10b s; the mind-control Pansee Sauvage, 5.11b s; Exodus, 5.11b; the super-popular C'est La Vie, 5.9 P1 or 5.11c; the control piece Back in Black to Black Top, the delicious Le Boomerang, 5.11d; Book of Numbers, 5.12c/d s; the former test-piece Genesis, 5.11a P1 or 5.12d s; the overhanging Desdichado, 5.13c.

Descents vary. Those routes going to the top of the wall typically involve the East Slabs Descent. This can be exposed and intimidating when wet. Also, the last bit can be challenging in the spring with a wet slab finish or funky downclimb down a chimney. Routes that partially up the wall will typically involve rappels.

Some come and play here, but bring your honed skills and verve, and enjoy!

Getting There Suggest change

To access this section of Redgarden Wall, you should park at the east end of Eldorado Canyon SP, hike uphill briefly, cross the bridge. Here you may choose one of 3 approaches depending on your exact line and preference. To access the furthest R routes, you go up the trail along the downstream side of the 150 ft tall crag, The Whale's Tail. To access routes behind The Whale's Tail, you can hike either around either the L or R side of the The Whale's Tail with both requiring 3rd class-ish moves (though the L side may be a bit harder). To access the furthest L of the routes in this section, you continue upstream, cross the concrete pad, follow the trail, take the right fork and you arrived nearly at the base of Redguard.

64 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Redgarden - S Buttress Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Redgarden - S Buttress

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 266
The Bulge
Trad 4 pitches
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c R
 402
Anthill Direct
Trad 5 pitches
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 155
The Flakes
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 104
C'est La Morte
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R
 84
Blackwalk
Trad 4 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 9
High Noon
Trad, Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R
 109
Pansee Sauvage
Trad, Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 36
The Vaporizer
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 287
C'est La Vie
Trad 3 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c X
 6
Night
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 58
Le Boomerang
Trad, Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 43
Back in Black
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b R
 12
Je T'Aime
Trad, Sport
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 106
Genesis
Trad 2 pitches
5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 18
Desdichado
Trad, Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Bulge
 266
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Trad 4 pitches
Anthill Direct
 402
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c R Trad 5 pitches
The Flakes
 155
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
C'est La Morte
 104
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Blackwalk
 84
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R Trad 4 pitches
High Noon
 9
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Sport
Pansee Sauvage
 109
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R Trad, Sport
The Vaporizer
 36
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
C'est La Vie
 287
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad 3 pitches
Night
 6
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c X Trad
Le Boomerang
 58
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, Sport
Back in Black
 43
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Je T'Aime
 12
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b R Trad, Sport
Genesis
 106
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad 2 pitches
Desdichado
 18
5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a Trad, Sport
More Classic Climbs in Redgarden - S Buttress »

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